The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-12-31

stones ana broken pottery 20 gave
drainage and this should be covercC
by q layer Of moss TO prevent the sol
Iabove from working down through tn,
stones. The drainage and moss shoult
/ take up about three inches. tn,
greater the body Of soil above III,
moss the more uniform il may be kept
as to moisture, The soil should com,
to within an inch and half or two
inches Of the top Of the box.
The indoor window box should b.
made to fit into the window. To get
as much light as possible it should be
level with the window II may be
fastened with brackets or placed on o
table, or have legs made for it. There
should be drip pan beneath to keep
water from soiling the floor. The box
may rest directly above the drip pan
on legs half an inch TO an inch high
or the box may be water-tight with
the exception Of hole at one end to
let out the water
The top of the soil should be allowed
to become quite dry once in while.
The results of watering will teach the
owner to regulate the supply. Boxes
may need watering in sunshiny wea-
Their Especially toward spring. every
day or at least every other day; in
cloudy midwinter weather not more
than once a week As rule 1t is bet
ter to water lightly and frequently
than heavily and infrequently. The
specialist of the department advises
this, although just the reverse is con-
sidered best when watering is done out
of doors in the summer.
Foliage, Not Flowers, for Window Box
A large proportion of the plants in
window box should be Of the same
general character if the growth is to
be successful. Plants Of different
character need different treatment. 1t
is very difficult to raise Towering
plants in a window box with the ex-
ception Of begonias. Ordinary flower
ing plants are very exacting, and will
not find enough light in the ordinary
living room, even though placed near
the window, although they may do
well in conservatory. The main OBJ
ject of an indoor window box is to
furnish the fresh appearance of grow
ing green leaves rather than to raise
flowers indoors.
The departments specialist makes
the following suggestions for win
dow box
Begonias are one of the most. at
tractive plants that may be used for
an indoor box. Both towering and
woodworking varieties will give salts
faction; in fact, the towering variety
is one of the few plants that will BIOS
som indoors without special cultivation.
The begonia is not very particular in
It's requirements and will flourish with
ordinary care.
Small ferns obtained from a florist |
will flourish. These are particularly
adapted to house culture, as they do
10 require direct sunlight. (Care of
'erns will be described in greater de-
all in a subsequent article.)
Even more hardy than ferns is the
oliage plant known as the aspidistra.
his adaptable plant-growth will stand
/ measuer of neglect, drought, and
lust and still thrive. 1t does not re-
Iuire direct sunlight.
Kenilworth ivy may be planted
long the edge. 1t will grow nicely
rom seed
Smilax may be grown from the back
f the box and trained up about the
Window to give the effect of an at
ractive bower
The inexperienced grower of plants
INDOORS can not expect to do well with
oses. These plants are most exact
lg, and not only will they probably
all to flower, but also their foliage
lay be affected by mildew, blight, etc. ,
The ordinary individual who desires :
Their varieties Of growing flowers may
Implement his window box with flow
ring ported plants brought in from
Inside, including bulbs, raised as de-
,ribed in a previous article of this
cries. These will probably keep their !
loom for a brief period only. People !
ho are fond of plants will, of course, 7
Dtain better results with blooming '
arieties after many trials. Some /
ave dealt with very difficult prob =
ms, which they have solved success :
lily, but the present suggestions are
cant for the novice as well as the
ore experienced grower.