It is possible, too, and is a very pretty experiment, to start the seeds without soil. Among the plants in my studio window, a short time ago, was a green glass finger-bowl filled nearly to the brim with water. On the surface of the water rested two layers of raw cotton cut to fit the bowl, and on top of the cotton were scattered a number of morning-glory seeds. They lay quietly on their soft, floating bed for a few days, then the seeds began to send out white worm-like shoots, and shortly there appeared on each a pair of small heart-shaped leaves tightly clasped together at the top by the now empty seed-shell. Soon down into the water, piercing the cotton, little thread-like roots made their way, growing thicker in mass and stronger as the young plants shot up in a wonderful growth. We watched them from their birth until they were three or four inches high, when an accident brought their existence to a close and our experiment to an untimely end.
Almost any seeds will sprout when treated in this manner, and in order to keep the water pure during the waiting period it is well to drop into it several small pieces of charcoal. Charcoal is a great purifier and its use is advisable in all water gardens.
The Green Sponge
appears quite marvellous to one who sees it for the first time. Take a large, rather coarse sponge, put it in a glass bowl, sprinkle it with sand and give it as much water as it will hold, then scatter all over it flaxseed or mustard seed, clover seed or buckwheat and place in your window. It will not be long before you have a sponge of living green, the secret of whose beauty lies in its being kept always wet.
Vegetables
of the tuber variety will grow, not in the water, but with water in them. The sweet potato, which puts forth a pretty vine, the white potato and the turnip have all proved successful experiments in my window, and it is said
Fig. 595. that the carrot and parsnip can be made to grow in the same way; their tendency, however, is to split at the sides, which allows the water to escape and causes them to dry up. I am told that another way to grow them is to immerse each half way in a bottle of water, keeping the vegetable suspended by means of a darning-needle thrust through it and resting on the edge of the bottle. In selecting potatoes choose those which have a number of well-developed “eyes,” and avoid the sweet potatoes which look temptingly clean and smooth. In nearly every case these are kiln-dried, or dried by artificial means, and no amount of coaxing will induce them to sprout.
Take a large potato which will hold considerable water when hollowed out, cut off one end and clean out the inside to the depth of several inches. Puncture holes on opposite sides about half an inch from the edge, pass one end of a string through each hole and tie, leaving a loop at the top (Fig. 595), then fill with water and hang at the side of your window, where it will not touch the glass nor get the direct rays of the sun.
In preparing the turnip remember to turn it upside down, as it is the root end you are to cut off; this is pointed and generally ends in a string-like root; the leaves sprout from the other end and form a pretty foliage. The turnip will not only send out its own leaves, but vines may be planted inside which will grow down to meet the upward growing leaves of the vegetable.