MY WINDOW GARDEN.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2136, 29 December 1880, Page 4

MY WINDOW GARDEN.

£From the " Prairie Farmer."] I want to tell my country friends about my window garden. But when I take my pen to picture it, the description falls so far short of its beauty, and the delight I receive from it; I almost shrink from the task. But thinking it may be a help to some one, who, like myself, has long pondered the ways and means of preserving some of the beautiful things of summer to cheer us through the dark days of winter, I will make the attempt. To make my garden I found a planed box, a little longer than the width of the window, eight inches deep, and about the same in width ; also, I used paint kegs for the box to rest upon. As these did not bring it quite to the desired height, I found two old pressed tin wash-basins, whioh, when inverted and paint kegs placed upon them, formed shapely pedestals for my box. These were all painted a rich brown and filled with earth, ready for vines drooping round the sides, and in the paint kegs are- planted the rapidly growing German ivy and other long vines all ready for my trellis, whioh is made by fastening some wire to the ends of the box, supporting it over the window on hanging basket hooks, forming -a beautiful arch for mj window, and a delicate lambrequin of green vinos, also furnishing an admirable ground for ornamentation, with the bright leaves of the bittersweet,-and a branoh or two of the forbidden - fruit, the bright scarlet colour of which never fades, but contrasts beautifully with the luxurious greenness. In the box beneath the window, are geraniums, fuchsias, and several varieties of coleus. On a shelf above, are more choice plants, and still above are hanging baskets with delioate vine;;. True, I cannot boast of many flowers. The many cloudy days of-this winter have not been favourable to thedevelopement of bloom, but tho gay -colours-of the foliage of many .plants are equal-to 'blossoms, and when a tiny, bud is discovered, with what interest and eagerness it is watched, until it unfolds into the perfect flower, when- it .gives a delight whioh ac summer flower .can .yield. At an- expense of 2dol. to eaoh window, I have doeble windows. The sash sorewed very -closely, and fastened in place 'by narrow casings, these will last a lifetime, and save tmeir cost many times in fuel, besides tbe freedom from steam and frost on the windows. My plants stand in their.places undisturbed, though in the very cold nights when the Fn-oet King reigns, I place paper behind the white curtains and feel that they are refe.

I think I hear some practical person say " too much trouble for a few planta.*" My dear sir, wa all have our peculiar tastes from which we derive enjoyment. The old gentleman finds solace in his -pipe, and our grandmothers were net supremely happy without their snuff box, &o. Heppinese, the great " endj and aim ov life," is -only what we enjoy, and! happy are they, who oan be content with so oheap a pleasure as the culture of a few plants. ——<»—^