“Finally, as to sunny and sunless windows:  put into the boxes for the shady windows plants which run to foliage, and into those for the sunny windows plants from which you expect blossom.  For blossoms, sun is necessary.

“The last thing of all is the placing of the box.  Shall it go on the sill?  Not if you wish to keep the sill in good condition.  Shall it be screwed to the casement?  It may be, but it is hard to place each year, and often the strain is too great on the screws.  The best arrangement is that of iron brackets screwed to the casement beneath the window sill.  These brackets when not in use may be folded in against the wall and so are quite out of the way and do not have to be removed from schoolrooms each spring when the box goes outdoors.  The weight of the box is sufficient to hold the brackets out, and so steadies them that it is not necessary to even screw the box on.  Two boys holding the brackets straight, two others placing the box on, is all the labour needed to make that box permanently secure.  It remains here now until its journey outdoors next spring.

“I would like to add the English ivy to the list of trailing plants for the window box.

“Some people have candytuft and others marguerites in the indoor box.  They do not look as well through an entire indoor season as geraniums, fuchsias and begonias.  I think I’ll ask Miriam, Elizabeth, and Helena to work on the shady window box.  We will use dracena, vincas, pandanus, begonia and Wandering Jew.  Ethel, Katharine, and Josephine fix up the sunny window box—­the fuchsia, heliotrope, marguerite, geraniums, Wandering Jew, and English ivy.  This will be a charming box.  Dee, you and I will plant the rest of these geranium slips for the girls.”

They all worked away busily for some time.  Then The Chief asked the girls to come into the house for a time.  As they entered the living room they noticed an array of plants on the big table.

“Sit down, girls, I have a little gift for each of you.  I wish you to study and nurse these plants throughout the winter.

“This first tall, rather stiff-looking plant is called an aspidistra.  It is the best all-around plant for the house or schoolroom.  It does not need much or special care.  Be sure to keep the leaves clean.  See that you do it, Miriam.

“This little Norfolk Island pine is the only one of the cone-bearing trees that you can bank on.  Notice that the method of branching is by whorls.  You are to have this plant, Elizabeth.

“I imagined that Eloise would love this little lemon tree called Ponderosa.  You can raise lemon trees from seed, but like the apple tree, they need special attention before they grow good fruit.

“The Jersualem cherry tree is for Josephine.  It does not absolutely need sun.  It, too, stands a great deal of neglect.  Remember I am not recommending neglect to you.  I am giving you the house plants that are of easiest culture.  You will be glad to make note of this entire list.  Of course, the berries are the charm of this Jerusalem cherry tree.