1866.J 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
25 
The Sponge Cucumber- 
Cucumis actitanyulus. 
Fig. 2. 
Some years ago a frieud sent us from Central 
America, a substance called " vegetable sponge," 
wliicli he stated was in common use in that 
country for AvasUing and scrub- 
bing purposes. It was a mass 
of interlaced fibres, nearly a 
foot long, not quite cylindrical, 
but somewhat angular and ta- 
pering, presenting much the ap- 
pearance of fig. 1. It 
■was recognized as 
the remains of some 
Cucurbitaceons fruit 
but it was some timt, 
before wc found that 
it belonged to the 
same genus as the cu 
cumber. Of late, the 
plant has been cul 
tivated by those cnri 
ous in such matters 
and through the 
kindness of Messr^ 
Henderson & Flcni 
ing, we are enable 1 
to give a drawing ol 
the fruit in its fresh 
state, fig. 2. The 
plant is a native of 
the East Indies, and 
beal's heart shaped 
leaves and yellow 
blossoms. The fruit 
when young, is eaten 
in the same manner 
as cucumbers, and is 
also cooked, mashed and dressed like summer 
squash. The fruit, when ripe, becomes orange 
colored, with a hard skin, and within is filled 
with a complex; mass of strong elastic fibres. 
The seeds are black and rough, and quite unlike 
the cucumber seed in size and shape. The fruit 
requires a long season to perfect, and the seeds 
had best be started \inder glass, after which 
they may be grown in the open ground. They 
will probably be advertised by some seed dealer. 
M ' mam > » 
Flowers for a Grave. 
The question is sometimes asked us, " What 
flowers are suitable to plant around a grave ?" 
The feeling which leads to the decoration of the 
last resting place of the loved dead is a natural 
one, and one which is in accordance not only 
with good taste, but with the teachi-ngs of re- 
ligion. It has found its public expression in 
many beautiful cemeteries all over the land, 
where the art of the sculptor has combined with 
that of the landscape gardener to beautify the 
city of the dead, and make its walks attractive 
to the living. While the general arrangement 
of rural cemeteries is usually marked by skill 
and taste, their effect is frequently marred by 
incongruities in the individual lots, the owners 
of which often show more zeal than discretion 
in their embellishment. One of the worst things 
to put about a grave is an elaborate iron fence, 
which looks like an ironmonger's advertisement. 
If the boundary must be marked, let it be done 
by a low hedge, but we much prefer to see no 
boundary. In a well ordered cemeterj', the 
planting of trees should only be done under the 
advice of the superintendent, as these become 
so large that they soon contrii)ute to the general 
effect and are as likely to be out of, as in the 
proper place. But in these general considera- 
tions we are led away from the subject of flow- 
ers. In the first place we would avoid all gaudy 
colors, and in the second place, select those 
which need but little care. This last may seem 
an unnecessary caution to the recently bereaved ; 
but we arc so constituted that we can not al- 
ways mourn, and we have seen many instan- 
ces in which, for good reasons doubtless, these 
floral decorations fell into a neglect which 
showed that they were not well chosen. A 
good green foliage, with white flowers, is the 
combination most appropriate to a funeral 
wreath, and is that which we prefer in floral de- 
corations for the grave, though colored flowers 
are admissible, provided they be of delicate tints. 
Deutzia gracilis, a low shrub, covered in spring 
with delicate white flowers, will be suitable 
where climate is no more severe than around 
New York. Daphne cneorum, a low evergreen, 
with pink fragrant flowers and hardy. The 
Black Hellebore, or Christmas-rose, with large 
white flowers,blooming in Nov. or March, though 
not very common, is well suited to the purpose, as 
is the perennial Candytuft — Iberia sempervirens, 
hardy and blooming freely, full of trusses of 
white flowers. Among the most appropriate 
flowers for the cemetery are the bulbs, such as 
do not need lifting each j'ear. These spring 
up and flower, complete their growth, and die 
down, and repeat this year after year, fit " em- 
blems of our own great resurrection." White 
and bright coloi'ed Crocuses, and the Snow- 
flake, are desirable, and bloom in early spring, 
while the Meadow SaS'ron — Colchicum autum- 
nale, flowers in autumn, with lilac colored bloom. 
Among the annuals. Sweet Alyssum is one of 
the best, and it is self-sowing. All these will 
answer with only occasional attention, but where 
constant care can be given, a great variety of 
bedding plants and annuals may be used, avoid- 
ing bright yellows, scarlets, and all glaring colors. 
fME ]HI(0)I[JgI^M(0)]LID. 
The Ornamentation of Tahles and Dishes. 
Few are aware how thoroughly the eye and palate 
are in sympathy, and in how great a measure the 
appetite is modifled by the appearance of our food. 
The confectioners are aware of this fact, and present 
their wares in tempting colors, and most of us can 
recollect seeing an otherwise good meal spoiled by 
being thrown upon the dishes and set upon a 
soiled table-cloth. All will admit that neatness 
and order are essential in the arrangements of a 
table ; these are within the reach of even the poorest. 
Beyond these there is decoration, ornamentation of 
our tables for the sole purpose of pleasing the eye, 
and this is sometimes carried to a great extent. 
We were once several days a guest at a house where 
the ornamentation was painfully elaborate, where 
each d.iy the butter was carved (not stamped) in 
some new form, and a pie was a work of art which 
it seemed a pity to destroy. Here the thing was 
overdone and oppressive, and our readers can 
make better use of their time than to devote it to 
anything elaborate. Still, we believe that those of 
moderate means and in the humbler spheres may 
with propriety give more attention to the appear- 
ance of their tables and the looks of the food upon 
them, the first great requisite of neatness being 
complied with. There is no table in the land, from 
the richest to the poorest, but what would be more 
attractive for a bunch of flowers. These are decora- 
tions that are alwaj's in place, and m;iy be set in 
vases of silver or crystal on the board of the mil- 
lionaire, or occupy a cracked tumbler by the side 
of Pat's pork aud pot.atoes. Besides flowers, green 
upon the table is always pleasing. In the spring 
half of the relish of cresses aud salads is due to 
their fresh look, aud the fact that they remind us 
that winter has gone and the season ot growth has 
come. Every garden should have its patch of 
curled parsley, which will be found useful in orna- 
menting many dishes, its fine rich gicen giving 
an attractive appe.-vrauce. Just notice ?ho diflTcrence 
in the appearance of a supper table, where in one 
case the ragged remains of the roast or boiled of a 
previous dinner arc set on, aud where the same 
meat is nicely sliced and regularly laid upon a dish 
and surrounded by a green border of parsley. This 
kind of ornamentation is unpretending and always 
iu good taste. A dish of spinach may bo made to 
look really beautiful by having the surface nicely 
smoothed and then surrounded by a border of 
slices of hard boiled eggs. Those who wish to at- 
tempt something cUboratc, can use carrots and 
beets, these are readily cut into stars, crescents, 
scrolls, etc., by bendiug up a strip of sheet tin into 
the desired shape aud using it as a cutter. With 
these materials a very showy border may be placed 
.around a platter. Of course the extent to which 
dishes may with good taste be ornamented, will 
depend upon the occasion and the surroundings. 
It should never be overdone. 
Dangerous Silvering Powders and Liquids, 
and Tooth Powders. 
We cannot too frequently caution the public 
against certain articles that are daily sold on many 
street corners in this city and elsewhere, and which 
are peddled through the country, .and even sold by 
some respectable dealers, unwittingly of course. 
They have been before exposed iu the American 
AgriculliirisI, and the sale was almost suspended for 
a time, but is becoming quiet brisk again, judging 
from what we see and hear. One of these is a "Sil- 
vering Powder," often a reddish clay, which rubbed 
upon a copper cent, or other copper or brass sur- 
face, or on some other metals, leaves a beautiful 
silvery coating. It is simply clay or other sub- 
stance impregnated with mercury (quick-silver), 
which gives a temporary bright coating, but will 
soon tarnish, and what is worse, it will sadly injure 
the metal upon which it is placed. Mercuiy dis- 
solves silver and gold and some other metals as 
readily (not quite as quickly) as water dissolves 
sugar. So that every application of these powders 
is spoiling the metals upon which they are placed. ^ 
Another preparation, equally objectionable, is a 
" Silvering Fluid." We daily see peddlers with a 
crowd around them, exhibiting and selliug a pinlc- 
ish material for cleaning and whitening the teeth. 
An examination of one of these packages showed 
it to be quite strongly acid. When applied to the 
teeth it of course cleans them beautifully, by dis- 
solving a little of the outer coating, but every appli- 
cation is eating away the teeth themselves, aud 
thus hastening their early decay. 
To Housekeepers —A Request. 
The design of this department of the AgriciiUur- 
ist is, to furnish hints and information that will aid 
our readers in their toilsome work, that will help 
to adorn their houses, and make them more com- 
fortable and inviting, and also to supply informa- 
tion about various methods, processes, and mate- 
rials, that will furnish food for thought, and occupy 
the mind while at work. We often describe and 
illustrate some common article of food, as T.apioca, 
Nutmegs, etc. This will be continued from time 
to time. Household implements also require at- 
tention. As a help to this department wc will be 
very glad to receive more letters from our house- 
keeping readers. Please let us have questions, inqui- 
ries, suggestions .as to what is wanted or desirable. 
Information on .all departments of housekeeping is 
solicited. Almost every one has some peculiar 
mode of cooking, of doing housework, etc., which 
is not fully known by others. Let us have the 
particulars. If our readers help u? by these qne.'^- 
