Perhaps I may as well tell you about my most important window box. I
had it made last autumn, and I was greatly pleased with it. It is made
of zinc, size one yard long, fourteen inches broad, seven inches in
depth. To give it strength it is framed at the top with wood. You can
have this of black walnut, or stained in imitation. You can have the
box painted any color you wish, or leave it unpainted. In the center
is Croton "Weismanni," on one side of it a fine Eranthemum pictum; its
green leaves look as though they were painted with white streaks; on
the other side, Acalypha "Macafeeana." These are the largest plants in
my box, and they do not exceed ten inches in height. There are sixty
plants in all, mostly averaging six inches in height, but a few are
quite small. They consist of very choice Geraniums--some of them
handsome-leaved--variegated Abutilons, Lemon Verbena, two bright
Achyranthes, six very beautiful Coleuses, and four fine Begonias.
There are others I cannot stop to specify. You will see that I have
filled my box with what are, in themselves, beautiful without the aid
of flowers, though I expect to have a few of these by-and-by. I am
perfectly satisfied with it, however, just as it is. I had a large
German Ivy growing out of doors, which consisted of several long
vines. This I planted in one corner of the box, and then drooped and
twined it on the outside. The change to indoor life caused the large
green leaves to fall off, but already new ones have put forth, and the
vines are rapidly growing. Everything else had been previously
prepared so that there was no change in their leafage after being put
in the box. It is a great addition to the beauty of the box to have
vines of pretty foliage drape the sides. This autumn I have had it
placed on a small, low table with castors, so I can change the plants
every week, and thus avoid that turning toward the window which they
always assume if kept in one position.
I first put in drainage, and then filled the box with rich, mellow earth
in which was a mixture of one-third sand. I have been thus particular in
my description, for many, no doubt, who, like myself, have to make the
most of limited space, will be glad to know just how to keep the
greatest number of plants to the best advantage. Not only is there a
saving of room, but of labor, and it is more cleanly.