Window Boxes

Southland Times, Issue 20792, 5 June 1929, Page 12

Window Boxes

Half the women who live in flats, or even in rooms, crave a little garden. Many experiment, sometimes with most disappointing results. The reason often is that they choose some plant which is difficult to grow, even in -an open garden, where light and air are more plentiful than on the window sill of a flat. Marvellous effects, however, can be obtained by the woman who takes a well-

drained box—that is, a box with plenty of holes for water to run out, and plenty of broken flower pots or china in the bottom.

The soil should be fairly light, but at the same time fairly rich. In such a setting the gay lobelia, will form a curtain of blue in a space of weeks. Primula Malacoidcs, too, treated thus, and watered regularly, will become fairy plants, such as arc never seen in the open border. Half a dozen freesia bulbs, although it. is getting late for these, may be added to the box or pot containing the primulas, and they will send their sweetness into a room from the window-sill.

When planting the lobelias, the homely Epsom salts box is not to be denied. It may look ugly at first, but it is surprising how soon it will be draped with blue-, and its depth gives the roots plenty of sustenance.

There is a tendency among amateur win-dow-box gardeners to starve their plants. It is not easy for the flat-dweller to obtain soil, although the real enthusiast will be found carrying home a pound or two of precious mould in a paper bag. However, if a good start is made, there should not be much necessity for more soil or manure during the first season. An occasional application of Chilean nitrate of soda—about a small handful to a bucket of water —will keep the plants in good heart and bring them into flower.

There are few more melancholy sights than the miserable, out-run geranium disfiguring the window-sills of a house, and few more cheering than a really gay display of flowers in full bloom. To ensure success the grower should clear out. the boxes at the end of each season, and begin all over again. And just another hint. Avoid the little pieces of this and that which well-meaning friends will offer for the boxes. They arc often unsuitable, do not thrive, and yet maintain a wretched existence, which spoils the whole appearance of the little garden.