A NUMBER of years ago I had a very strong desire to make an attempt at window gardening, but was compelled, like many another, to content myself with a common window. There were two windows in the room, one on the east and the other on the north side. Of course the east one was selected on account of the more sunny exposure.

The room was not very well lighted, and as light was one of the chief requirements of success, I contrived a plan to trap all of the rays of light possible, and although the affair was a very crude one, the result was quite satisfactory.

I made a very light frame of wood that extended from the top to the bottom of the window casing and across the top. It projected perhaps a foot from the window, and was covered with bleached muslin.

There were two or three shelves on brackets fastened to the window casing, and underneath all was placed a zinc pan to catch the drippings when the plants were treated to a shower bath. I never had as good success with geraniums and coleus as during that season. Lace curtains draped over the whole produced quite a pleasing effect.

My next venture was a little more elaborate, and although not quite so satisfactory as it would have been in a more favorable location, yet the success I have secured with certain plants is quite flattering.

The undertaking this time was to enclose a portion of an eastern porch, the entrance being effected by removing a window and making of the opening a door-way which was draped as the remaining windows in the room, with the lace hangings.

The floor of the porch was allowed to remain, and another one was placed above it, level with the floor of the room adjoining - the space between being filled with sawdust. On each of the three exposed sides of the enclosure were fitted two windows, both an inside and outside set, making in all twenty-four sashes. The hollow space in the casings between the windows was also filled with sawdust.

Around the three sides, resting on the floor, and about nine inches in from the casings, a board was set on edge. This board was nearly wide enough to reach to the top of the window sills. Another board was placed under the window sills and sawdust was put in between the two. A wide shelf rested upon them. Another shelf of narrower dimensions was placed upon iron brackets secured to the casing, and just level with the top of the lower and bottom of the upper sashes. It has been my observation that better taste is exhibited by arranging the shelves in such a manner that the edges are not noticeable when viewed from without, and by adjusting them in this way this objection may be avoided.

Around the outside of the shelves was tacked a moulding that projected half an inch above, and before the plants were put in place these shelves were covered with clean sifted sand. This sand I find is quite an advantage, as it keeps more or less moist and helps to produce a more humid atmosphere for the plants, since the surplus water from the frequent showerings is absorbed by it.

I have found that during very severe weather, especially with an east wind, it is quite difficult to keep out all the cold, and I have profited greatly by a suggestion somewhere offered, to paste strips of writing paper over every crack possible. Where the wood work is painted white the paper is not at all unsightly.

For the first few years that I had this little plant room I experimented with a great many different kinds of plants, but each year's experience convinces me that I can succeed with only a limited number. I have failed year after year with geraniums, coleus, heliotropes, callas and anything requiring, a higher temperature and more sun.

Smilax grows quite luxuriantly. The English ivy does well, and one or two varieties of begonias - but the most of them do not flourish on account of the lack of heat. The plants that give me the greatest pleasure, however, are the maiden-hair ferns and the Chinese primroses. The former are beautiful, and the latter grow so thriftily and blossom so profusely all winter long that they are a great delight.

I had quite a satisfactory experience with cinerarias last winter; I grew them from seed. The great pest with which to contend in their culture gave me no trouble whatever; I refer to the green fly or aphis.

I take cuttings from my geraniums in the fall and keep them in small pots for outside blooming, and they grow well during the winter, but fail to produce many flowers while confined in the house. Large plants do not blossom well, either.

I have read oftentimes that one should turn the plants frequently on the shelves to expose all sides alike to the light, but it is my opinion that they do far better if they remain very nearly in the same position. It seems as if they spent too much of their vitality in adjusting themselves to the change, for it is plant nature to look toward the bright side, at least.

The usual manner of heating this room is simply by the heat that would naturally come from the adjoining room, although during some extreme cold weather a kerosene lamp or stove has been placed in it during the night-time.

Michigan. Alice R. Garfield.