New-York tribune., 1908-04-09
PLANTS IN THE CITY.
BcautifWng Wmdo5cs, Roofs and
Yards 7cith Blossoms.

City back yards, roofs and windows do not FUR
nish congenial soil for the growth or plants yet
such is the love of the human heart, ana par
ttcularly the child heart. for growing things
that many gardens have been started in such
places At the American Institute, No. 19 West
44th street, yesterday afternoon George T. Powell
told how these wiIdernesses might be made to
blossom and how toads and birds and insects
would come to keep the plants company.
The toads have to be brought, but insects come
of their own accord and all too soon, and the
birds discover that the insects are there, and
one insect comes to prey on another. The ants
have discovered that there are aphides on the
top of St Barthoomew's parish house and Mr..
Powell found swarms of them there yesterday
morning. They had crawled up the high brick
walls to get the sweet honeylke liquid which the
aphides eXude from their bodies.
Plants that grow under difficulties should be
selected for these city gardens. Mr.. Powell said.
For the window box he recommended radishes
The radish grows under extreme difficulty he
said and gives quick results. Kindergarten
teachers say that children love them on this &C
count. The seeds may be up IN forty-eight hours
after they planted"
While the radishes growing in the centre
of the box there may be vines at the edge MI
Powell recommended various ives-the trailing
fuchsia which does well in a restricted nghl'
nasturtiums which 10 thrive in poor SOIL
and the wild cucumber which makes small de-
nands In the way of light. and may be trained up
around the windows. For color effects the gera-
MUM and the old-fashioned petuna may be chosen
The most difficult part of window box garden
ing is gathering the SOIL" said Mr. Powell. In
the tenement districts it is almost impossible, and
those who live in the country could do nothing
better than send in barrels of good soil to the Ma
tionaI Plant Flower and Fruit Guild
The roof garden is an easier proposition. II ap-
pears. because there are rain and plenty of light.
There is no water like that which falls from
heaven" Mr.. Powell said. 1T brings with it
gases from the atmosphere which to refresh
vegetation nothing else does. The artificial ap-
plication of water take the place Of rain.
Provided gets good soil, the only difficulty of
roof gardening is the intense heat.
The most valuable plant for roof gardens and
back yards is rhubarb. II will grow anywhere
If you put il In the middle of the floor it will grow
without soil If il only get moisture.
The back yard presents greater difficulties than
either the roof the window box. The soil is
usually unresponsive, and often consists Of the
refuse from excavations, mingled in many cases
with cement The morning glory, the cucumber
and the Dutchmans pipe vine will grow almost
anywhere. Sometimes the best thing to do is sim
ply TO get grass, but there places where grass
will not grow. When all else fails try buckwheat
II will grow on the poorest soil. The bean also
thriyes on such soil When the soil is at all con-
genial tomatoes may be trained against the fence ."
When Mr. Powell had finished his talk some one
in the audience said that sweet basil would grow
anywhere, almost in a dark bedroom.