The Common Ivy

The Common Ivy and several of the best cut-leaved varieties, particularly emerald gem, succeed well as pot plants in smoky parts of our towns, and for this reason they are largely used as window plants when trained against a small trellis work that has been erected in the pot in which the plant is growing. The variety laciniata and the large-leaved Irish form would also appear to be most commonly in use for window decoration, and when neatly grown against a trellis they have indeed a pleasing effect.

Several species of Cacti are also grown successfully by the dwellers in the East End of London, and at some of the flower shows the perfection of culture to which they have been brought is surprising.

Geraniums, of course, do well as window plants everywhere in the metropolis, the readiest to manage, judging from what one sees, being the green-leaved forms. Fuchsias are not so satisfactory, though well-grown specimens in the windows of the poorer inhabitants of our narrow dusty streets are not uncommon.

The Common Verbena

The Common Verbena or Cherry Pie is sometimes seen as a window plant in London, where, for a time, even in dusty, smoky districts it appears to flourish.

Euonymus Radicans Variegata

Euonymus Radicans Variegata is often used for pot culture in London, where it succeeds well if studied as to the class of soil in which it is planted, and that not too much moisture is present at the root.

Ferns are also useful as window plants for smoky towns, the two best perhaps being Pteris cretica and Asplenium bul-biferum.

Saxifraga Sarmentosa (Mother of Thousands)

Saxifraga Sarmentosa (Mother of Thousands) may often be seen growing and flowering freely in the most smoky parts of our larger towns, and is an excellent plant for such situations. The bundles of hairy leaves, veined white, and pretty slender runners render the plant a favourite with cultivators. Its requirements in the way of soil and management are simple.

The variegated leaved Nepeta Gle-Choma, of trailing habit and with highly aromatic silvery variegated leaves, also finds favour with the dwellers in the slums of London.

Echeveria Metallica Glauca

Echeveria Metallica Glauca should also be included amongst the best of window plants where smoke and soot abound; which may also be said of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum, both useful plants and of simple requirements.

No doubt one of the best plants for the town window - indeed, for internal decoration of any kind - is the well known Aspidistra lurid a variegata. Its powers of withstanding smoke, gas, and general atmospheric impurities are well known and have earned for the plant a reputation for general indoor culture that is, perhaps, shared by no other species. There are both green and variegated leaved forms.

Several species of Veronica are well adapted for the more heated, dusty and smoky parts of towns. The box-leaved Veronica V. buxifolia and V. Traversii are both used largely in many parts of London, as at Lambeth, Whitechapel, Stratford, and Chelsea, either as indoor plants or for table decoration.