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Tlte. IlortkultarUl and Journal 



fern-case (cabinet maker's pattern), containing 

 stone grotto and choice tropical ferns, Selag- 

 inellas, Begonia rex. etc., a square home- 

 made case (large), containing native plants 

 entirely; circular fernery (large), containing 

 tropical plants ; log with a fine specimen of 

 Platyceriuvi alcicoriie (stag-horn fern) grow- 

 ing upon the top, other ferns and mosses on 

 the sides ; wire baskets, with Davallia ; cocoa- 

 nut shells, with maiden-hairs ; bell-glass, with 

 Adiantum capillus- Veneris,or English maiden- 

 hair ; also other ferns in pots, cut fronds, etc. 

 Ferns suitable for ferneries, which can be 

 purchased at the greenhouses at fifty cents or 

 less : 



Pteris seiTulata, 



" ar^yrea, 



" longitblia, 



" trc'imila, 



" Cretica, var. albo-lin- 

 eata, 

 Pellaea rotnndifolia, 



" hastata, 

 Gymnogramnia sulplmrea 



" calonielanos, 



Doodia caadata, 

 Aspleninm Mexicannm, 

 Onychinm Japonicnm, 



Adiantum capillns-Veneris, 

 " atline, 

 " ^Etliiai)icum, 



" cnneatuni, 



fnlvum, 

 " hispidnlum, 



Aspidinm molle, 

 Selag'inclla Marteiisii, 

 " dciisa, 



Bi-aiinii, 

 Kraussiaiia, 

 uiicinata. 



J?ef/omas,— This class of plants is well 

 suited for house culture. The bloom of the 

 Begonia Magnijica, is most beautiful and 

 constant. The petals resemble frosted glass. 

 It has a very delicate, .spring pei-fumc. I 

 have had a specimen in bloom since the first 

 of October. Eequires plenty of water while 

 blooming. — Ex. 



Daphnes for Whitet' Flowerlmj. — 



For the past two months I have had some 

 plants of Dwphne odora, flowering and effus- 

 ing their fragrance in my little drawing room. 

 Receiving almost no care at all, they flourish 

 in spite of neglect ; sometimes without water 

 for more than a week, and the thermometer 

 ranging from 60 down to the freezing point, 

 still they maintain their equanimity and 

 bloom on. Slight frost does not materially 

 injure them, neither is sunshine indispensable. 

 My plants, about 3 feet higii, have been 

 without a glance of sun during the blooming- 

 season. In fact, the connnon mistake is too 



much care in their management, especially in 

 regard to heat. The air of a sitting room is 

 too warm for the healtli of the plant, if long 

 confined to it. A low temperature is recjuisite, 

 while at the same time it prolongs the bloom- 

 ing season several weeks. M. M. 



A Floral Decoration.— K writer in Les 

 Blondes suggests a new idea for floral decora- 

 tion, which it seems may readily be put in prac- 

 tice. An ordinary earthenware flower-pot is 

 filled with water, the hole in the bottom of 

 course being closed, and allowed to stand until 

 its porous sides are completely soaked. The 

 water is then thrown out, and the pot is 

 repeatedly dipped until it will absorb no more, 

 and its outside becomes thoroughly wet. On 

 the outer surface fine seed is thickly sprinkled 

 and allowed to remain sticking thereto. The 

 pot is then refilled with water and set in the 

 shade under a bell-glass. In a short time the 

 seeds will germinate and throw out shoots, so 

 that to prevent their falling from the sides of 

 the pot, some thread or wire must be repeated- 

 ly wound around the exterior of the latter. 

 Eventually the entire vessel will become a 

 mass of living vegetation, which is nourished 

 by the percolation gf the water contained 

 within through the porous sides. 



Artistic Nosegays.— The ball bouquet 

 of the period is of long-stemmed flowers, 

 loosely yet most artistically put together, and 

 is made up of but two or three kinds of flowers 

 that must not only match the floral garniture 

 of the dress with which they are worn, but 

 must also be of odors that do not conflict. 

 For instance, with a dress of white gauze, 

 fringed with lilies of the valley, the hand 

 bouquet is of real lilies of the valley ; pink 

 rosebuds, and glossy green smilax, with a 

 pinkish-j^ellow salmon silk dress. The round 

 bouquet is half of tea-roses and the other half 

 of pink buds. Sometimes the entire bouquet 

 is of double violets with a smilax wreath ; 

 deep red Aggrippina roses arc alternated with 

 pale yellow ones, and so on. Violets and 

 geraniums neutralize their odors. Heliotropes 

 and pink rosebuds blend well both in color 

 and perfume. 



