Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-11
THE INDOOR WINDOW BOx.

ned and tended, will afford much pleas
ure and satisfaction to the housewife
who misses her out-of-door garden dur
ing the winter months. 1t is a mistaken
notion that plants when kept in living
rooms use up certain elements of the
air in such quantities as to make 1t un-
healthful for individuals using the room.
1t is much harder on plants to be In a
room with people than for people to be
in a room with growing plants. Plants.
indeed, use air, but use such a sma!
proportion that the effect Of the plant
In the room is negligible II the room 's
ventilated at all. This also holds good
for cut flowers or plants in a sick room,
although the odor OF some flowers may
be depressing to the patient, and bad
for that reason.
A good depth for an indoor window box
is about 10 inches. The bottom Of the
box should be covered with stones and
broken pottery to give drainage and this
should be covered by a layer OF moss
to prevent the soil above from working
down through the stones. The drainage
and moss should take up about three
inches. The greater the body of soil
above the moss the more uniform 1t may
be kept as to moisture. The soil should
come to within an inch and a half or two
inches of the top of the box.
The indoor window box should be
made to fit into the window, To get as
much light as possible it should be level
with the window. 1t may be fastened
with brackets or placed on a table, or
have legs made for 1t. There should be
a drip pan beneath to keep water from
soiling the floor. The box may rest
directly above the drip pan on legs half
an inch high or the box may be wate--
tight with the exception Of a hole at one
end to let out the water. The top Of the
, soil should be allowed to become quite
} dry once in a while The results OF
/ watering will teach the owner to resu-
8 late the supply. Boxes may need water
/, ing In SunShtny weather Especially
t toward spring. every day. or at least
! every other day; in cloudy mid winter
weather not more than once a week.
Y AS a rule It is better to water lightly
r and frequently than heavily and infrc-
quently. The specialist Of the y. S.
: department Of agriculture advises this,
g although just the reverse is considered
f best when watering is done out of doors
+ in the summer.
{ FOLIAGE NOT FLOWERS FOR WIN
DOW BON.
\ large proportion OF the plants IN a
, window box should be of the same gen
= eral character If the growth Is 10 ba
successful. Plants of different character
- need different treatment. 1t is very diff
g ficult to raise Towering plants in e
n window box with the exception of be-
gonias. Ordinary Towering plants arc
IA very eXacting, and will not find enough
g light in the ordinary living room, ever
though placed near the window, although
!. they may do we'll in a conservatory
t The main object of an indoor box is &c
furnish the fresh appearance Of grow
ol ing green leaves rather than to rais'
1t flowers indoors.
The department of agriculture'S spe
cialist makes the following suggestion:
Of for a window box:
Begonlas are one of the most attrac
id tive plants that may he used for an in
Of door box. Both Towering and nonflowe-
rs ing varieties will give satisfaction: y
IL fact. the Towering variety Is one Of tn
Mt few plants that Will blossom indoor
ly without special cultivation. The begoni;
( Is not very particular in it's requirement
ry and will flourish with ordinary care.
Small ferns obtained from a flolis
in will flourish These are particularly
ur adapted to house culture. as they do no
es require direct sunlight. Care OF fern
en- will be described in greater detail In
to subsequent ~article),
as Even more hardy than ferns is tn
nd foliage plant known as the aspidistrd
ty This adaptable plant-growth will stan
es n measure of neglect, drought, and dus
de and still thrive. II does not require sun
I'd light.
f. Geraniums may also be used as follag
as plants, though they must not he e>
a. pected to blossom in the window box
be Kenilworth ivy may be planted alon
all the edge. It will grow nicely from see'
re Smilax may be grown from the bac
we of the box, and trained up about II
Ie' window to give the effect of an attra'
al tive bower.
a The inexperienced grower OF plants II
doors cannot expect to do we'll VIII
D" roses. These plants are most eSactin'
and not only Will they probably fail
ice flower, but also their foliage may be a
we fected by mlldew. blight, etc.
vs. The ordinary individual who desirj
en- other varieties of growing flowers, ma
'ur supplement his window box with rowe
to ing noted plants brought in from on
Ire side. including bulbs raised as describe
st, In q previous article of this ser,e
be These will probably keep their bloom II
raj n brief period only. People who are Tor
no Of plants will, OF course, obtain bett'
a r~es,lts with blooming varieties art
to many trials. Some have dealt with vel
a difficult problems, which they nave sol
is ed successfully. but the present susee
md tons are meant for the novice as We
or as the more experienced grower
nee