The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-15
WINDOW GARDENS
BRING SPRINGTIME
INTO CITY HOMES


With the first breath of spring
comes an indescribable hunger for the
sight of growing things. For those
who reside in small town or cities
there are woods adjacent and inviting
But for the f1at-dweller or city-dweller
generally there is only south window,
or at best, an uncompromising fire.
escape.
However, one need not despair, for
while there is sun, there is hope, and
will bring the desired 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
rush off to secure the services of a
florist, when. after all, the most pleas
ure is secured by planting and tend
ing the relays of plants for ones
self.
Begin box gardening for windows
or roofs with vines and flowers that
are hardy and easily grown There is
nothing more pleasing than a hardy
vine which viii climb gracefully on
either side of the window With sun
ny exposure, vines grow with marvel
Gus celebrity.
Common garden peas are hardy and
may be grown in an ordinary tumbIer.
Tie over the mouth of tumbler, which
should be filled with water, bit of
the coarse, stiff net used by milliners.
Cover this net with peas and stand
in dark but not cold place for three
days. At the end of this time, take
the tumbler to the window and In ii
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
secured by encircling a large Jelly
glass with wire, to which is fastened
dome-shaped network of fine wire.
The vine will spread over this, max
ing a perfect net of fresh, green
leaves, which may be allowed to droop
gracefully when the top growth is sur
f1ciently thick. The vessel should al
ways be kept full of water, and few
drops of household ammonia and sew
eral small pieces of charcoal should
be added each week.
After experimenting with tumbler
the same way Fresh-cut flowers
thrust into the mass of vines make
this beautiful center piece for the ia
bic 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 climb rapidly, have
a more dainty leaf than their cousin,
the convolvuIus, and have proved the
simplest of all vines tor the window
garden. They are usually grown fro
seeds, and the novice will do we'll 10
ask the florist for two varieties,
known as /. Coccinca and I. Limbata.
The former has a small red bloom;
the latter shows a white margin
around an exquisite pale blue star
shaped center. Blossoms may be ex-
pected four or six weeks after plant
ing. 4-.
1t is always well to secure the soil
needed for this sort of gardening from
the florist, as, even when beginning in
small way, much depends on hav-
ing properly prepared soil. This should
be stimulated at stated intervals with
liquid manure, the materials for max
ing which may be bought fer a few
cents frcm any seed house. "
The cranberry is another hardy and
dependable vine, and one will speedily
fill a box or hanging basket with its
pretty foliage. The pure white flower
comes first and then the rich red ber-
ry.
When purchasing cranberries for
sauce to accompany the Sunday tur-
key or chicken, lay aside a small hand
full of the berries, and dry them until
they are shriveled. When these are
opened a surprising number of tiny
seeds will be found. Plant them with
a mere coating of earth. In fact, it 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 a bit of green, try your
hand at something more elaborate, and
by summer time your window will be
abloom with mignonette, phlox, lady
slippers, and other old-fashioned bios
SONS. Gain experience within expen-
sive and simple varieties before in
vesting heavily. There is a knack, a
gift of raising flowers that one must
learn. 1t comes only through love of
plant-life and experience.