The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-09-29
WINDOW AND VER4NDA BOXES
BY EBEN &. RExFoRD.

BY EBEN E. RExFoRD.
Where vines are lacking most ex-
cellent substitute for them about the
veranda is furnished by plants grown
In boxes made to fit the spaces be-
tween the posts.
These boxes the boys of the family
will be delighted to make, If they are
like most boys know, if you Will FUR
nish them good tools to make them
with.
They should be at least a foot wide
and foot deep and the timber or
which they are made should be of fair
ly good quality, for it will have to re-
sist considerable pressure when the
box is filled with the soil.
These boxes will be found most sat
isfactory if allowed to project outside
the veranda rail. They should be well
supported by braces running from the
bottom of the box on the outside to
| the veranda floor.
! Paint them some neutral color be-
fore filling them with soil.
If ordinary soil is used you will have
only an ordinary development of the
plants you set out TO grow in it, while
what you want is vigorous growth.
Therefore, send the children out
with shOvels and baskets and instruct
them to gather the rotten vegetable
matter to be found in old fence cor
ners and about stumps and logs.
No matter how full of roots 1t Is
the nutriment you are in search OF i
there, and n few roots more or less
will not interfere with the plants yol
propose to grow in it. On the con
trary they will prove of positive bene
tit as they will help to keep the sol
light and porous.
Before filling the boxes with soil
bore few holes in the bottom of then
TO allow for the escape of surplus wa
ter. In all probability there will be m
surplus water to escape, but it is wei
to be on the safe side. When you pu
the soil into the boxes press it dow
firmly. If dumped in lightly evapora
ton will be rapid and the roots of you
plants may suffer in consequence.
At the outside of the box set vine
of quick development, like German iv
tradescontia, moneywort, or the ms
deira vines. These will soon hide tn
box completely and after little the
will form a screen for all that porto
of the veranda below the rail.
Morning glories can be planted her
and there along the box and tralne
upon strings and made TO furnis
shade for the veranda as well as
screen.
Other Towering plants can be selec
ed to suit individual taste. Almo:
any plant can be used with REASONABLE
chance of success If care Is taken
see that the soil in the box is alway
kept moist This is the secret of I'll
success of the culture of plants
window and verahda boxes. Do not /
satisfied with quantity of water tn;
will wet the surface of the soil ar
leaves that portion of it two or thrt
,, inches below almost as dry as befOl
any was applied.
Use it by the pailful and make SUI
/. that the soil in the box is moist. He
. is where most persons fail in box ga
dening. They use pint where a pa
full is needed. They overlook the ia
that because of their elevated positiC
these boxes part rapidly with moi
ture by evaporation.
Being exposed to hot air and viii
:, on every side they are likely to b
come dry in very short time, and Il
only way to prevent this is to maj
1t rule to apply water in liber
quantities every day. Do this and y,
have no trouble in growing good plan
in them. Neglect to do this and y,
: will meet with the failure you 3
serve. While the ordinary window b.
affords great deal of pleasure by t
flowers it furnishes at the window 81
1t furnishes no shade for the windo
- Most delightful awnings can be ma
: with very little trouble by naili
strips of lath together in a square a
fastening them to the top of the W
ID dow, letting them slant downward
r. front on the angle of the ordinary clio
awning. Support them by braces RI
ming from window frame to their o.
le side edge. Cover them with coal
,r wire netting.
Plant quick-growing vines at I
= ends of the window boxes, and tr,
these up the strings until they can ia
hold of the netting that covers
framework of the awning.
In a short time you will have all I