Window And Parlor Gardening

"OlÜpod Quill," in Forett and Strêam, lins written a series of attractivo articles vinder tlio litio " Window and Parlor (iardoniug." Pioiu ono of them wo extract the lollowing : How much joy springs lïoin tlio single sprig of ivy rising from somo favorite niche in tlin window and graccfully thrqwing its braaohing tondrils over the wholo window, and rambling carolessly in the wild vagaries of rampant growth. Is it not beautiful 'i You would think so could you behold a plant of the English ivy growing in my study at this writing. Rising from reooss of ray window-sholf, it climbs in giacoful nogligenco to the vory top of the window, and theu passes in festoons of groen aoross the same, at last finding a lodgment within tho antlors of a fine specimen of tho American red deer that ornamenta my room. Such a plant is often the very beginniug of a tseries of exponmente iu window gardoning, of wh'ich so ruuch is said and writton, and of which, in fact, so very littlo is praotically understood. Window gardening is fashionablo to-day, and very many use a window garden just as they uso flowers at a funeral, simply beoause it is " fashiouable" to havo them. Among the not expensivo window gardens wo niay name a dovioe we used in our own sitling-room, which wo called an "adoptivo case" as wo made it a receptado to reccive our ilower pots, and our experiment not being patonted, and not beyond tho constructiivo genius of the viÜage carpeuter, of oourse any ono who choose3 can hare one made to order. Our wiudow slielf being six inches only in width, we had a box mado that would just fit into our window of the following dimensions : The length of the box was three feet, the depth fourteen inches, and the width fourteen inches. Into this box we had a zinc pan placed, made so it would just fit the inside of four inches in depth. Thia box was to receivo a drainage of surplus wator from the plants, had a hole to draw off dirty or surplus water from tho end, and was stopped with a wooden stopper. A box of this kind, properly made and attended to, would not nood drawing of perhaps during a Winter, and I am speaking of tho winter trea tinent of plants now. Haviug placed the zinc pan within tho box, fill tho same with tolerably small bits of broken crock until it is oven with tho top of tho pan ; then cover tho top of this pan with a thin piece of board (pasteboard will do), in which holes are bored, and then place your composition or earth for your plants ; set out your plants, ohoosing those of any of the species you may wish, and at oncn commence your study and treatment of the same. With such a simple box as this you may grow not only our native Amoricau ferns, but add to them from time to timo, as your progresa in knowledge incroases ; thu rare and beautiful productions of the far off Indios, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan, Australia, and many other couutrios can bo mado to contribuid thefr varied treasures to the simple box in tlie window of your quiet rural home. How great tho improvenients that can be mado upon this quito simplo window arrangement will naturally suggest themsclves to almost any ono who really and truly loves ílowers for themselves alone ; and to this class we speak - for this class we write. We do not expect thoso who buy and wear flowurs simply because " it is ton," to do so, or because at the great party givon at Mrs. Ht. Johu's last weeK thoro was a lovely bouquet placed beside eaoh lady's plato. This is all well as far as it goes, but we speak of thoso who lovo these boautiful things ot' earth for their own sweet relinonients, and becauso in them we behold the teachings of our Fapor in Heaven.