Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14
WINDOW GARDENING
WILL BRING SPRINGTIME dLO-
RIES HOME.
Simple Directions for Starting Hardy
Vines at a Sunny VIM
dow.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
With the first breath Of spring comes an
indescribable hunger for the sight Of grow
ing things. For those who reside in small
towns or cities there are woods adjacent
and inviting. But for the flat-dweller or
city-dweller generally there is only a south
window, or at best, an 'uncompromising fire
escape.
However, one need not despair for while
there Is sun, there is hope, and a window
garden. properly tended. will bring the de-
sired touch of spring to ones very door.
Children. or their elders Of little experience,
can secure results from these box gardens.
The principal requisite Is an early start.
The novice Is apt to wait until neighbor' 8
box Is In bloom. and then rush off to Sc
cure the services of a florist, when, after
all. the most pleasure is secured by plant
iEg and tending the relays Of plants for
ones self.
Reads Simple.
Begin box gardening for windows or roofs
with vines and flowers that are hardy and
easily grown. There is nothing more pleas
ing than hardy vine which will climb
gracefully on either side of the window.
With sunny exposure, vines grow with mar
velous celebrity.
Common garden peas are hardy and may
the mouth of a tumbler, which should be
filled with water bit Of the coarse, stiff
net used by milliners. Cover this net with
peas and stand in a dark but not cold
place for three days. At the end Of this
time. take the tumbler to the window and
in few days roots will be seen shooting
down into the water. and soon the vine will
be ready for training.
An effect both pretty and unique is secur-
ed by encircling a large jelly glass with
wire, to which Is fastened a dome-shaped
network of fine wire. The vine will spread
over this, making perfect net Of fresh,
green leaves, which may be allowed to
droop gracefully when the top growth is
sufficiently thick. The vessel should always
be kept full Of water, and few drops Of
household ammonia and several small pieces
Of charcoal should be added each week.
After experimenting with tumbler, train
vine over a gold fish bowl in the same
way. Fresh-cut flowers thrust into the
mass Of vines make this beautiful center
piece for the table on festive occasions
The flowers should be permitted to remain
only during the meal. as otherwise they
would soon absorb all the vitality of the
growing leaves.
Morning Glories.
Morning glories climb rapidly, have q
more dainty leaf than their cousin, the
convolvulus, and have proved the simplest
Of all vines for the window garden. They
are usually grown from seeds, and the
novice will do well to ask the florist for
two varieties, known as I. Coccinca and 1.
Lfmbata. The former has a small red
bloom; the latter shows a white margin
around an exquisite pale blue star-shaped
center. Blossoms may be expected four or
six weeks after planting.
1t is always well to secure the soil need
ed for this sort Of gardening from the
florist, as, even when beginning in small
way much depends on having properly pre-
pared soil. This should be stimulated at
stated intervals with liquid manure, the
materials for making which may be bought
for few cents from any seed house.
Another Pretty One.
The cranberry is another hardy and de-
pendable vine, and one will speedily fill a
box or hanging basket with it's pretty fol.-
age The pure white flower comes first and
then the rich red berry.
When purchas sing cranberries for sauce
to accompany the Sunday turkey or chick
en-, lay aside a small handful Of the berries
and dry them until they are shriveled
When these are opened a surprising num-
with mere coating Of earth. In fact, 1t is
fatal to nearly all seeds to plant them
deeply
AS these early and more hardy plants
prove that your window Is just the place
for bit of green. try your hand at some
thing more elaborate, and by summer time
your window will be abloom with mig
fashioned blossoms. Gain experience with
inexpensive and simple varieties before in
vesting heavily. There Is a knack q gift
of raising flowers that one must learn. It
comes only through love of plant life and
experience.