38 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



THE " GAEDEN OEACLE " FOR 1874. 



HERE has been soinewliat of a lull lately in the publica- 

 tion of horticultural books, and this causes the new 

 issue of The Gaeden Oracle to stand out very dis- 

 tinctly — in fact, its bright green cover shines on our 

 table like a message of the coming spring, and we ■wel- 

 come our own work with as much gladness and surprise as if it had 

 come unexpectedly before us. The immense annual sale of the 

 Oracle is the best proof we could have of the appreciation of our 

 labours ; but probably a very small proportion of our readers appre- 

 hend the labour its production necessitates. The list of coniferous 

 trees embodies the observations of years, and we have again plodded 

 through note-books and multifarious memories to make our selec- 

 tions of plant?, flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc., as perfect as possible. 

 The lesson in drawiug is a novelty, for it will teach any one to make 

 a fciir copy of a print or flower in a few minutes, and, while it insures 

 accuracy in the first attempt, it really trains the hand and eye for 

 the higher varieties of artistic work. The essay on table decora- 

 tion will, we trust, gratify our lady readers, and the few words on 

 potato culture should, we think, do something towards rendering 

 this important esculent more profitable than ever, and in some degree 

 more safe against the assaults of disease. "We hand over the Oracle 

 in its sixteenth issue to our constituency, with a deep sense of 

 thankful regard for the support and sympathy we have enjoyed, and 

 an assurance that our agreeable labours continually renew our youth^ 

 and enable us to smile at difiiculties, as ceasing' with the determina- 

 tion to overcome them. S. H. 



PLANTS EOR ROOM DECORATION. 



BY MTSS A. HASSARD, ST. EONAN's, UPPER NORWOOD. 



E value flowering and foliage plants at the present season 

 of the year even more than at any otlier time, their 

 bright look and sweet perfume making us almost forget 

 the frost and cold winds out-of-doors. Nothing gives 

 a room such an elegant look as handsome groups of 

 plants arranged about it. Just now, too, some of our most eflfec- 

 tive plants for this purpose are in perfection. Take, for example, 

 primulas, heaths, lily of the valley, etc. Some persons prefer 

 single plants dropped into china pots, or any other kind of orna- 

 mental cover, while others like them in groups. If the room be 

 large enough, I much prefer the latter, as a far more eflective 

 arrangement of colour can be obtained in this way. Plants intended 

 for the decoration of sitting-rooms should be well cooled off" previous 

 to being placed therein, for, if brought in fresh from the stove, they 

 will not stand the sudden change of temperature and draught to 

 which they will be subject; and if they be ferns, this will be even 

 more visible. A few hours after their change of quarters their 



