Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-27
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

together is to get cross section, as ii
were, of earth, plants and sky. The soil
must be the earth, the plants the
plants and the free space above them
the sky.
Beginners will fill their bowls with
too much soil and then select plants
which are too tall, so that effect of
sky is entirely lost. BY filling the bowl
too full of earth the planting line is
placed too high in the garden and the
remaining space is entirely given over
to plants.
Remember, then, to skimp rather
! than put in an excess of SOIL The
small stones form one layer and the
mixture of soil and moss above should
complete, all together, not more than
a third CT the bowl.
X X
| The soil should be composed of about
one-t third leaf mould, if you can find
any; one-third sand and one-third
ordinary earth. In lieu of leaf mould,
peat moss is very good, but it will swell
some when wet, SO allow for this.
Place this mixture over the rocks and
then wet the soil, but do not make it
soggy Now comes the placing of the
plants, small specimens found hidden
away in the outside garden, an easy
enough find during such a warm
Autumn as this was.
Small specimens of petunia, little
snapdragon plants and violetS are a
| few of the ordinary things one may
secure at no cost from the home yard.
Wandering Jew. that standard indoor
vine is an essential on account of its
variegated leaves.
! Before the plants are put in, accord
| ing to taste, comes the turn of the
moss. This must be moss growing on
earth, not on rocks or trees. Bits OF it
can be pushed down the sides of the
glass, between the glass and the earth,
and the effect is very pretty. A few
sea shells, if handy and small make a
nice addition, but the fabricator must
go slow in using them.
Naturalism Is the keynote Of the
glass garden. No matter If ones first
| creation Is not q masterpiece, just so
long as the plants are green and
healthy looking the effect will be good.
The neat point In the management
| of the bowls comes in knowing just
when to let In q little air by slipping
the lid over q bit. This knowledge
comes with experience. II the inside
is too blurred, and does not clear up
late in the day, the lid should be
opened for a few minutes, until the
mist has disappeared.
Watch must be kept on the leaves,
and if these show white, or begin to
turn yellow, there is too much moisture
present, and the lid may be removed
| for a considerable period, maybe as
much as half a day.
These gardens should be placed In a
north window. Direct sun will make
them grow out of all bounds and COM
plete shade will not do, on the other
hand. A north window, not by ra-
diator, Is best If placed in a window,
the bowl should be reversed every few
days, in order to keep the plants from
| leaning in one direction for the light.
Experts who have worked on these
bowls declare that watering is not
necessary except every half year or
| longer. The earth may be tested with
the finger, and If it feels dry on the
surface a very light sprinkling Of
water given it.
| These bowls, while not new to hor-
| ticulturiSts, come as a complete sur
prise to many amateur lovers Of grow
| ing plants. Those who make them are
inclined to feel that they are a new
discovery, and are surprised to find
that many of their friends have glass
gardens months old and growing strong.
For the desk of the horticulturist and
general plant lover one of these inter-
! esting bowls would make sterling
present.