The Washington herald., 1913-10-25
DON'T DELAY WINDOW
GARDENTO0L0NG
October Il the Month to Clean Up the
Garden and Bring the Flowers
Indoors,

Be sure to arrange the window garden
and take the plants in before frost. With
the wealth Of flowers in the garden it is
a pity to let them all be destroyed when
their gay color will lend a note OF cheer
fulness on many a dark, cold day,
French marigolds Just coming into bloom
will live and thrive in the house, as will
almost any OF the small ANIMALS.
Mignonette, giant candytuft, and sweet
alyssum, as well as the petunias, will
supply continuous bloom until spring
Nasturtiums planted in September will
blossom all winter, or slips cut from the
vines can be started In water for the
window garden. If you have a plant of
heliotrope do not leave II out to die, but
cut it down unsparingly and put 1t in n
good-sized pot, water It well. and keep in
a dark place until the little new shoots
start. 1t may then be added to the
other winter bloomers. Nor must the
Uranium be neglected. the old plants cut
K to within eight inches of the pot
begin to bloom Immediately, while
small plants started during the sum-
will flourish and bloom in the early
ring. From the established beds of
uhloX and dianthus and other border
Scwers select a few specimens for the
house; il well cut back they will send
uu new, vigorous shoots and bloom boun-
Il Illy during the dark days Of early
lter.
Sun an Essential.
The window gardens greatest neces-
sit- is sun; the plants cannot thrive
without it, but they must have a finely
pulverized. rich soil, prepared with an
idea of the right proportions Of loan,
fertilizer and humus. Take equal parts
of good garden soil, well rotted manure,
and light, rich earth, woods earth is
just the thing: add a little sand and a
sprinkling of wood ashes. Mix all well
together and sift An inch or two of
broken flower pot or brick in the bottom
Of the box will aid the drainage.
With water sprayed over the leaves
as well as in the pots and a bit Of plant
food added once or twice during the
winter, there is no reason why, the win
dow garden should OF be a delight until
one can enjoy the out-of-door flowers
again.
We can expect a frost almost any night
now, and TO save the flowers a short
time longer, carefully watch the weather.
when the air is still and dry prepare for
trouble, light covering. even a news
paper, over the flower bed will protect il,
or if the sprinkler is turned on all night
it will keep the air moist, thus preventing
the frost settling near at hand.
October, too. is the month to clean up
the garden. so you see how busy one
must be. Every bit of trash about the
place offers an inducement to the insects
and disease spores to winter there. All
the plants which have ceased to bear
should be pulled up and bnrned or added
TO the humus or compost heap. This is
the place for the dead leaves which so
many burn. they make excellent fertilizer
In the spring, and will save the purchase
of manure, and it is not economical to let
excellent plant food go to waste. Be
sure to burn the small twigs which strew
the lawn, however, as they are the work
of the oak pruner," those foolish worms |
which come to the ground inside the twig |
t"ey have gnawed of, hence by burning |
lie twig one can destroy the pest