Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-04-29

low and ny away W Al Nuo hSs-AAS-iN
the July dust begins to powder the
young foibaage and the July heat TO
CULVER above asphalt payements. But
there is no reason why the town
house should not be made more pleas
ant to town-weary ewes and senses
by a very little expenditure IN the
way of Towering plants and cool,
growing green things in windows,
yard and porch.
One OF the significant things that
impress Americans in Lnndan rs the
window flower-box custom House
after house has its saving touch of
grace and color at the window lodges.
and even on the poorer streets ger
aniums and the old-fashioned posie
relieve the mo1otony of stone and
brick. The great mansions are often
veritaIble hanging gardens With
green vines covering stone facades
and every window ledge blaze OF
lovely color. Yet in American cities
few houses are thus beautdfied. 1t Is
the exception when window boxes
are used, and housekeepers who are
fastidioalsly particular about the ele-
gance OF their window hang'ngs and
the immaculate neatness of front
steps and vestibules seem never to
think of the opportunity fer adding
charm and homelikeness to their
abodes with window-ledge gardens.
The first expense is, Of course, the
heaviest After the boxes have been
installed the cost cf filling them with
fresh flowers and earth is trifiing, and
the same boxes may be used year az
ter year, each autumn being emptied
and store1 away in the cellar along
with the awnings, window screens
and other summer paraphernalia Of
the house. 1t is important to have
rich, lcamy earth for the window
box gardens, for the space Is so linn
tied that the plants must get all he
slistenance possible from what earth
there is. 1t is best to put the win
dow boxes, early in April, in the
hands of a reliable florist, who will
see that the earth is right for the Sc
lected plants-some flowers requir
ing much richer earth than others:
and Sometimes to, loamy earth will
kill plants that wouM flourish in a
more sandy soil.
Window boxes along the porch rail
or on the stills of ene's own domicile
may be used without the protecting
zinc trays beneath; but woe be to
the apartment house dweller who
decks out her window lodges with
flower gardens unprotected by the
trays; for the first time the friendly
watering pot visits her posies there
will surely arise a storm of protest
from the drenched neighbors beneath.
But the prime favorftes for window
the ground floor windows and pink
box gardens are geraniums-sturdy,
easily cared for geraniums, with their
gay and cheerful color and fresh,
spicy fragrance. If geraniums are
used in the front windows they should
match in color; or any rate on the
same rcw of boxes. Red geraniums
on one of the Lodges above are charm
iEg.
The woman who Arranges her own
window boxes and orders the earth
sent in from al florists should see to
it that a simple drainage system
makes her window garden healthy for
the coming plants Pebbles or bits OF
broken china should be scattered over
the bottom CT the box to keep the dirt
from packing too solidly The earthen
pots in which plants come from the
florists, il broken into small bits
make excellent drainage for the bot
tom of the box. Now and then also
the surface dirt should be stirred up
with "a two-tined kitchen fork or other
implement.
Pansies are charming early growers
in the window garden, but pansies do
not last long and must be replaced
later on with 1asturtiuums, petunias
CT some other hardy plants. Nastur-
tiums are great favorites fer window
boxes, and two sorts should be plant
ed-the climbing nasturtiurns at the
edge of the box and the stocky dwarf
plants for the center. The climbing
rasturtiums will droop gracefully ever
the wooden sides of the box, while
the center plants maintain their pos
ition.
Mignonette grows satisfactorily on
the window ledge. F'ushsias may also
be used. Heliotrdpe, thought lovely
with its purple coloring and delicate
perfume. must be tended carefully if
II is 10 thrive in the window garden.
In rear window morning glorles are
charming, and they will grow rapidly
on strings stretched from bottom to
top of the window, making a cool,
beautiful screen for the room within.
Over bathroom window at the back
OF the house--provided, OF course, the
sun is on that side-a morning glory
screen is enough to keep one con-
tented in town all summer.
Flowers alone will not make the