The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-11


window gardening.
The use OF roof porch or window
boxes affords splendid opportunities
for cultivating plants to those who are
deprived Of space for a garden proper.
Ono would think that apartment house
jewellers would take greater advantage
of this style OF gardening. especially
those who are continually expressing
their longing for the country and
growing things.
The receptacles used for growing
plants on roofs, porches and window
stills are varied and oftentimes strange.
In some cases the bizarre note is sup
piled by the extremely rich, who. in
their efforts to Guido their neighbors,
invest in costly, over elaborate and in
congruous window boxes. The circum-
stances under which the very poor ex-
list forces them, if they wish to grow
plants, to make use Of almost any
thing as a window box that will hold
soil. Lovers OF Dickens will remem-
Der Tim Linkinwater's description Of
a double wallfiower growing in a
cracked jug without a spout and the
hyachinths blooming in old backing
bottles. tended by a sickly, bedridden,
humpbacked boy.
The writer's experience as judge
at the annual children's garden exhibit
held at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
has brought him in contact with many
of the shifts INDUCED in by tenement
jewellers in their efforts to have living
plants about them. There Is an in
tensely pathetic note in connection
with the exhibits from the poorer sec
tons Of the city. At the same time
one cannot fail to be inspired with the
thought that in spite Of manifold dis
advantages the striving, after beauty
is present even in the worst slum dis
tricts. Old saucepans. having outlived
their usefulness in the kitchen; soap
boxes, perhaps the leavings of street
corner orators; cigar boxes, surely
rever owned by the child's father when
filled with corona coronas." and old tin
cans are pressed into service to hold
soil for the roots Of the plants. And
who knows what strenuous eXertions
and journeyLngs afield were necessary
in order to obtain the precious earth?
Sometimes the plants exhibited in these
unorthodoX window boxes" match up
with the sorry receptacles and some
times they are of an excellence that
would not discredit even a professional
gardener.
Very effective porch boxes have BE- en-
made from the cylindrical hot water
boilers to be seen in so many kitchens
These, when they are no longer of any
Use for their original purpose. can have
the side cut away for about one-third
OF the circumference and for almost
the entire length of the boiler Holes
are punched in the bottom to allow
surplus water to escape. The boiler Is
then supported on a stand or fastened
along the edge of the porch. A con-
rainer OF this kind has no beauty in
itself and the endeavor should be made
to plant in it strong growing subjects
of dropping or creeping nature that
will quickly hide the unlovely outlines
Of the receptacle.
In many OF the rural districts OF
England very elaborate rustic window
boxes may be seen. These are made
| of wood in the ordinary way and after
ward covered with virgin cork or may
be with small branches ofs any tree
| with ornamental bark. These branches
are split lengthwise, leaving the bark
on, and then nailed to the box side,
| often in intricate geometrical patterns.
Window boxes may be, and often
are, made OF stone or concrete, to
harmonic with the house architecture.
When planting in boxes OF this kind
one is often handicapped by the fact
that the architect, as Is only natural,
has been thinking more of archi-
tectural effect than the welfare of
the plants and has neglected to specify
drainage holes!
In between the extremes Of the
ornate and the makeshift, there is the
happy mean-the window boxes OF the
everyday man or woman. These may
be the metal self watering" boxes
or the ones made OF wood.
The self watering boxes are
reputed to be excellent from the cul-
tural standpoint of the plants. They
are obtainable in various sizes and
consist of double container-the
outer part being watert!ght. Water is
poured into the outside container
through tube that extends TO the
surface OF the soil. The water is con-
Quoted TO the soil in the interior box
by capillary attraction. These boxes
are all very we'll II the term self
watering" is not taken too literally.
They need regular replenishment, Just
as do the old style boxes. The great
| advantage connected with them is
that the water applied stays where II
Is needed and is not wasted by leak
age through the drainage holes on to
the sidewalk or passersby.
Old style wooden boxes can be made