WINDOW GARDENING. The culture of flowers, odorous plants, and those kept for the beauty of their foliage, in dwellings, is probably as old as the era of comfortable dwellings them selves. It is so old in fact that its beginning has Dever been chronicled. The love of flowers is as inherent in our natures as the love of life, and the desire to possess within the dwelling such objects as strike the eye, would naturally sug gest the transplantation of curious or striking plants. Window gardening or the cultivation of plants in rooms, is almost exclusively confined to the middle and poorer classes, or at ]east to those classes whose wealth will not allow their cultivation in and conservatories. It is a constant and striking proof of that innate love of the beautiful. found in the more sensitive natures as well of the savage as the most en lightened of mankind, It is a taste which the rich and the poor may alike enjoy; for the humblest window in an obscure alley of the crowded ci'y may have its crock of plants or its single blooming flower, if no more, giving as unalloyed satisfaction as the most costly plants in the great conservatories of the most wealthy. One of the chief drawbacks to window gardening is that the range of plants for this culture is limited. No skill would enable the cultivator to keep certain classes of plants healthy in rooms. In crowded cities the list would be still less in number, since the confined air of such rooms are the very worst situation in which plants can be placed. Therefore, if healthy plants and an abundance of bloom are expected, variety must be sacrificed. Among the succulent species best adapted to a confined space and close atmosphere are many of the aloes, cactuses, etc. The orange and myrtle are well known among that class, having firm leaves, and a smooth, compact skin. Those plants haying the leaves small and of a delicate texture, are illy adapted to house cul ture, and some tribes as the heaths, and probably the whole race of pinnate leaved, and papilion aceous flowered plants, of which lupins, clover, etc., are types, are entirely unfit for house culti vation. Pinnate-leaved plants have that class of foliage where a single petiole has several alternate leaves attached to each side of it. Water, beat, air and light are the four essentials to plant growth, a proper soil being supplied The first three and the last all may command. The first three promote growth. Light renders the growth perfect, and over this we can not have perfect control, even in the most favored situations, indifferently so iu houses in the country ; in the city it is the most difficult factor to control in the cultivation of plants in houses. To reach favorable results light must come directly from the sun, and plants should be so placed, that there be as little refraction and decomposition, always present when it passes obliquely through glass or any other medium other than the air. Without pod light it is inpossible to grow healthy plants, and while it acts beneficially upon the upper surfaces of leaves, it seems to be injurious to the under surfaces, for however a plant may be placed, it will turn the upper sur face of the leaves to the light. Plants in rooms turn not only their leaves but also their branches to the light, and this is in proportion to the light of the windows and the shadow of the room; therefore plants do nicely in a south window, and when light is also admitted to the room from an east and a west window. If this south expos
ure be a bay window that may be closed from the room, and where heat and moisture may be conserved, you have the best possible conditions, under the circumstances. Now-a-days portable stands are so cheap that almost any one may by their use grow at least some plants, and when the plants require washing or cleaning they are easily removed for the purpose. If saucers are used, they should be filled with coarse gravel upon which to set the pots. Thus any water they contain will be evaporated into the air and about the foliage and thus assist in keeping up a due and equable moisture in the apartment. Plants respire constantly by their leaves. In rooms these soon become choked with dust, and if not cleaned the plant becomes sickly and dies. When grown out of doors they are daily washed by dew, exercised by the wind, and thoroughly cleansed by every shower. Plants with large solid leaves may be sponged, while smaller and rough-leaved plants may be cleansed by invert ing the pot on the hand and rinsing in a vessel of water. Loose dirt may be got rid of with a pair of bellows, and thus by giving the plants exercise, will essentially increase their vigor. Whenever possible plants should be taken out of doors, or some other suitable place, for washing, then it may be done with a garden syringe, or a fine rose watering pot held high above them, that they may get advantage of the force of the drops. House plants, especially roses and gera niums, are often subject to the attacks of lice, Aphides. They are easily removed by washing in rather weak tobacco water and often in clear water, or a cone of paper may be placed over the plant and a little tobacco smoke blown un der. So also they may be destroyed by cam phorated water. Mildew sometimes attacks plants. This fungi is the result of a bad condi tion of the plants. Sulphur or camphor are the proper remedies, and a due circulation of air the preventive. Scale insects—cocus—also attack the orange, camellia, and similar plants. They may be removed by a sponge and water. The idea entertained by some that plants in rooms are injurious to the health of those living in them is altogether unfounded. In fact theoretically the reverse should be the case. Plants exhale oxygen from their under surfaces, during the light. When large numbers of plants, especially those whose flowers are highly perfumed, or those with odorous leaves, are kept in close rooms, they may sometimes occasion faintness, but with the few that are usually kept the per fume will only be sufficient to give the delight ful sensation we all so much admire. Plants in rooms, to the extent they are generally grown by persons of taste, are not only not injurious to the health, but will afford relaxa' ion from ordinary routine duties, amusement to the mind, and pleasant exercise to those whose time is not fully occupied. The examination of the several parts, both botanically and physiologically, will afford a pleasant and instructive Andy that, once en gaged in, will thereafter not be discontinued.