Gabrielle shape, and button at the back. 
Trim the bottom with a row of braid corres¬ 
ponding to the prevailing color in the goods; 
a plaid sash tied at the back in a large baud. 
^italics. 
Elegant gros grain ribbons for sashes, 
heavy, wide and firm, can now be purchased 
in nearly any color, and 
especially in black, for $1 
to $1.25 per yard. A black 
sash with a neat calico 
dress, for an afternoon 
“ dress up ” in the country, 
is tasteful and stylish. The 
loops of the bow should be 
large, the knot loose, and 
the ends not over long. 
For children, bright look¬ 
ing sashes may be fash¬ 
ioned from plain woolen 
stuffs, as delaines, meriuoes 
or poplins. 
Empress Cloth Dresses. 
R. and N. II., Gallipolis, 
O.—Overskirts are almost 
invariably ent like a short 
dress-skirt and looped at 
the hips and back. The 
postillion basque nml dress 
flounce are finite as stylish 
and less common. The 
drawing of the illustrations 
(Figs. I and II) was made 
from a very elegant gown * 
of black silk, designed for 
the house, the skirt form¬ 
ing a slight train at the 
back. The deep llonnce 
reaching a little above the J 
knee, is put on in double ^ M 
box plaits, tbe central plait 
fastened down with a but¬ 
ton, and buttons are placed J 
between the spaces, which 
m«y be from eight to twelve • 
indies in width to suit the 
fancy. The basque is very : JH 
handsome, and is distin- JH 
guished at the back by 
being looped in the center 
with a button. It is cut 
quite like a long, plain fi" 
basque, save with full gores, 
with a deep notch cut out 
forming the points, leaving 
a space of eight inches, ... • JL-jS 
perhaps, between the apex 
and the waist, which is laid ... 
in two or three plaits and 
fastened with a button. 
The fullness thus formed 
is what a modiste would 
call “ most elegant.” The trimming con¬ 
sists of the same, made into a puff, with 
one hound edge forming an upright ruffle. 
Two pipings finish the lower edge of the 
puffing. The triiftming in front forms a 
vest, and on the coat sleeves extends to 
• he elbow, where it is finished with a bow. 
This would be a fine style for your dark blue 
and wine-colored empress cloths, using vel¬ 
vet of corresponding shades for bindings, 
pipings and buttons, and facing the vest also 
if desired. To economize in cloth and weight 
cut the skirt off where the flounce joins it. 
Ijrlorrcttlttrrr. 
FLORIOULTURAL NOTES. 
SnxHVnaa itlawennn. 
Tins new and elegant species of Sexi- 
fraga was discovered by Mr. Geo. Maw, of 
England, on the Beni-Hosmar range of 
mountains near Tetuan, Morocco, The 
number of species of Scxifmgas now known 
to botanists is so extensive, the genus seems 
to need dividing. Florists, however, for 
convenience sake, arrange the numerous 
species into groups, perhaps somewhat arbi¬ 
trarily ; but it answers the purpose intended, 
i.e. y readily distinguishing the more marked 
forms 
The 8. Maumm , is a member of the 
liyprides groups, that is, moss-like, most 
of which have rather small flowers, but the 
Maweana. produce flowers about three- 
quarters of an inch in diameter. Petals, 
pure white in tbe upper half, deep greenish 
at the base, and distinctly veined. 
The leaves are about, two inches broad, 
and of the form shown in the accompany¬ 
ing illustration of a small section of a full 
grown plaut. Blooms in spring, and prob- 
WINTElt COS'X'UMJif. 
ably will be tender in the Northern States, 
Probably the most familiar species of the 
genus in this country is the well known 
Saxifraga narmentora, also called Strawberry 
geranium, Wandering Jew, and scores of 
equally foolish and inappropriate names. 
There are several species native of Siberia 
Fig. II.—Front View of Basque. 
and Northern Europe that have very large 
leaves and showy flowers, which are occa¬ 
sionally seen in florists’ collections; but we 
do not know of any one in this country who 
makes these plants a specialty or keeps any 
considerable number of them for sale. 
A New Sunflower. 
Sunflowers may not be general favor¬ 
ites among ornamental plants, but a lew are 
admissible in grounds of considerable ex¬ 
tent. There are persons who really admire 
a blazing, big sunflower, and we are not 
going to question their taste, because they 
have just as good a right to it as we have 
to ours in not admiring such a style of beau¬ 
ty; but if sunflowers are to be grown, let 
them bo of tho best kind. 
Some of the newer double 
dwarf sorts are not quite 
so coarse as the old giant, 
so extensively cultivated 
in some localities for its 
seed; but still further im¬ 
provements are announced 
among sunflowers under 
the very high - sounding 
name of FMiavihua, anninis 
fstulexus. It is described 
as being a fine quilled, 
double form of the com¬ 
mon giant sunflower. The 
flower heads consist of a 
dense symmetrical mass 
of golden - colored quilled 
florets. 
Aro Flouse riuntn Inju¬ 
rious f 
I regret exceedingly 
that your correspondent, 
in her communication in 
Rural New-Yorker of 
Nov. 25(h, headed “Plea 
i for House Plants,” did 
L not also caution against 
If tbe deleterious effects of 
house plants in bod chain- 
|| Iters; or is it only a fable, 
B (believed, however, by a 
H great many well meaning 
Bft- persons,) that the exliula- 
lions of plants at night are 
injurious to those who 
I: sleep in rooms where they 
| ^. are placed? Please give 
H your views, ns well as ilie 
H opinions of others, on Ibis 
H subject, in the RuralNew- 
Youkeu. Possibly there 
H! may bo some plants that 
are harmless, and I desire 
SM to know whether the fob 
lowing are to ho placed in 
that class: — Apple Gera- 
ilium, Nuimeg Geranium,. 
Heliotrope Joseph’s Coat, 
Pink, lee Plant, Partridge 
Breast, Crab Cactus.—L, 
MO tl We have already ox- 
pressed the opinion, based 
upon observation, experi- 
ence and consultation with 
intelligent physicians, that 
plants in sleeping rooms 
are not necessarily injuri¬ 
ous to health. Wo can see no good reason 
why they should be so regarded. Those 
who experience deleterious effects there 
from, or suppose they do, most likely (ail 
to ventilate their sleeping rooms properly. 
If to preserve the right temperature for 
plants the needed air is excluded from the 
sleeping room, its occupants must suffer; 
not, necessarily, because of tins plants, but 
for want of air. We purpose soon to give 
the written opinions of men—physicians— 
qualified to speak in this matter. 
ninrkia ViiIiui of Romo Leaven. 
A lady having asked the Farmers’ Club 
of N. Y. city if rose leaves, used so exten¬ 
sively in the manufacture of perfumes, 
might not be gathered and dried with profit, 
and whether there is not a market for them, 
Andrew H. Fuller responded :—“Rose 
leaves are imported by our druggists, and 
cost about $1.50 a pound. It is not, howev¬ 
er, our common garden varieties that furn¬ 
ish the rose leaves of commerce, but tho red 
damask rose, so largely cultivated in some 
portions of Europe, from which tbe oil of 
roses is made. If the writer of the above 
communication wishes to go into the rose 
leaf business she would first have to estab¬ 
lish a reputation for producing a good arti¬ 
cle before it would be in any great demand. 
I think the price of labor in this country 
would greatly interfere with the profits.” 
If tbe dried leaves bring but $1.50 per 
pound, what wages could a woman make 
per day gathering them ? 
SowinK Rbododeudron Seed. 
S. C. should sow his rhododendron seej^j 
immediately in shallow pots or boxes filled 
with sandy peat. Place the pots in a cold 
frame or similar position, and allow them to 
remain there until the seed vegetate. The 
seeds being very small, care should be given 
in not covering too deep, and in watering 
use a pot with a very line rose, else the seeds 
will bo washed away. Lay a pnne of glass 
over Hie pots, to keep out vermin nud pre¬ 
vent evaporation. When the plants are 
largo enough to handle, transplant into pots 
or broad, shallow boxes, usiug the samo 
kind of soil. 
\ 
ous to health. 
rborirnltnrr. 
GROUPING TREES. 
The peculiar and pleasing effect which 
can be produced by the proper grouping or 
arrangement of trees is seldom studied ex¬ 
cept. by the professorial landscape gardener. 
Having frequently referred to the want of 
taste displayed in the arrangement of trees 
and buildings on the farm, we now wish to 
call the attention of those who live in alevcl 
country to a simple inode of producing a 
seemingly varied and uudulating surface to 
their grounds. Those persons who formerly 
lived in a hilly country and now dwell on a 
level plain, often sigh for the variety in the 
landscape seen in their farmer homes. This 
is especially the case with those who have 
emigrated from the Eastern States and found 
a home on some of tbe prairies of the West; 
and while we cannot advise them to attempt 
the building of such expensive things ns 
bills, we will endeavor to show how a simi¬ 
lar iminnginative effect upon their surround¬ 
ing can be produced without them. 
Perhaps the greatest mistake that most 
persons make when locating a dwelling up¬ 
on a level piece of ground is in not running 
the foundation several feet above the sur¬ 
rounding surface, and then filling in about 
it, thereby forming a minatlirehill as a start¬ 
ing point. A Slight elevation makes a won¬ 
derful difference in the general appearance, 
especially in the view from within the house 
and upon the lawn and other surroundings. 
Supposing that the dwelling and out-build¬ 
ings arc already in place and ail upon a level 
plain; the entire scenery can be readily 
changed by the use of trees and shrubs. 
A knoll, in appearance,cun be made with 
these materials, by planting the tallest groov¬ 
ing species of trees in the center, following 
in succession with others of less size, until 
the low-growing shrubs fill up tho outer 
circle, A hill or high point in the distance 
may bo erected in the same manner as shown 
in the accompanying illust ration of a “ bank 
of trees.” Of course, to make such orna¬ 
mental plantations appear natural and pro¬ 
duce tbe desired effect, they must be of con¬ 
siderable extent; but this would he au ad¬ 
vantage, inasmuch as the annual thinnings 
required to prevent crowding could be used 
for fuel and other purposes. To produce 
the desired effect, close planting of the trees 
and shrubs at tho very start, is requisite, 
thinning out in after years, ns they com¬ 
mence to Interfere with each other’s growth. 
In close proximity to the dwellings, small¬ 
er banks and groups may be introduced even 
to small shrubs and bedding plants, all aid¬ 
ing to produce the desired effect. Tree- 
planting on the Western prairies is attract¬ 
ing the attention of the people of this region, 
and if they will only consider the orna¬ 
mental as well as useful, the scenery of the 
country can be made the most beautiful in 
the world, even with its natural disad¬ 
vantages. See page 364 for illustration. 
jttfomologkitl. 
Front View of Boy’s Suit. 
Fig. I — Back View of Dress, 
Back View of Boy’s Suit. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES. 
lienn Weevils Annin. 
Please find inclosed some (( beans that arc 
full of hugs, worse than any peas L ever 
saw. Ours are all that way, and some of my 
neighbor’s the same. Are they pea bugs or 
not?—IT. G. Ahkkbauek, Nokonm, III. 
See Entomological column of Rural 
New-Yorker, Nov. 18, for answer. 
Cabbage Worm Parasite. 
In the Rural New-Yorker, Nov. 25th, 
page 333, we published a letter from one of 
our hoy correspondents who slated that bo 
lmd found parasite flies in the chrysalides of 
the cabbage worm. We Imvc since learned 
that they are quite common in other locali¬ 
ties, and'that the comparatively new pest, of 
the cabbage is likely to disappear through 
the attacks of its own natural enemy the 
Pterouuihts pHparuni,nv cabbage worm para¬ 
site. Tbe While cub huge butterfly (Picris 
rapes) has been known in Europe for cen¬ 
turies* but never appeared to do any con¬ 
siderable damage because kept in cheek by 
its natural enemies, but when first intro¬ 
duced Into this country the latter did not 
accompany it, hence its rapid multiplication 
until the ravages of the worm (larva) caused 
a greatoi loss to our cabbage growers in one 
season than was sustained by European 
ganluers in ten or twenty, Now that its 
natural parasitic, enemy Inis also appeared in 
this country, we may expect soon to see its 
numbers reduced an 1 our cubbugvs nearly 
or quite exempt from Ibis pest. 
Jfiobfs unit jfianners. 
°?> op 
MINTWOOD’S CONVERSAZIONE. 
Trouble** of u PinnNt. 
Zoa Mendon, of Illinois, writes as fol¬ 
lows :—“ A lady visiting at the house of a 
friend, is asked to play. While playing, 
another visitor enters, who may, or may 
not, be known to the performer. Query: 
Should she leave the piece unfinished and 
rise from the piano, or finish the piece with¬ 
out an apparent knowledge of the presence 
of the new-comer?” 
As a rule, cease playing, for it may not be 
agreeable to the new-comer. Circumstances 
alter cases, but if you are in doubt what to 
do, cease doing, for that is always a safe 
rule. [We do not agree with Mintwood in 
her reply to this correspondent. The per¬ 
former should betray no consciousness of the 
presence of a new-comer, and the new¬ 
comer will betray great ill-breeding if be or 
she allows his or her entrance to, in the least 
degree, interfere with the performer by di¬ 
verting the attention of her listeners. It is 
not impolite to continue to play; it is impo¬ 
liteness to those who listen to cease playing. 
—Eds. Rural.] 
Winter Costume. 
Winter costume of double merino, the 
skirt just to clear the ground, trimmed at 
the edge with arabesques of satin bands and 
fringe of the same color as the skirt. Tunic 
raised at the back, fringed ami trimmed to 
correspond with tho first skirt. High hat 
of black straw, with gauze frou-frou scarf 
rolled round the crown and falling over the 
chignon. 
The Ilnir ({ucMiion. 
Here is Lucy M. W., who writes : — “ I 
have plenty of hair upon my head, for which 
I am very thankful, and quite an abundance 
upon my arms, for which I am afraid I am 
not very thankful. I feel sure that if you 
know of any hair exterminator, you will in¬ 
form me of it.” 
Most certainly, but I know of none. It 
lias been my observation, however, that 
when one wages a war against Nature, he 
has a long and bitter struggle before him. 
I know a young woman who hud a low 
forehead, (a pretty thing in a woman, too,) 
and who wanted a high one. She adopted 
the ingrain process of pulling the hair out 
by the roots, using pincers for nid. She 
continued to pluck out the hair for eight 
yearn, and finally gave it up, as the hair 
grew in constantly, blacker, stiller, and 
lower down. So reasoning from analogy, 
you better leave your arms as Nature left 
them, wear long sleeves, as a modest woman 
should, and be happy. 
Here is another sister writing from Rcy- 
noldsville, Pa.,who wants a “ liairrestorativc 
that will do what it professes to, without 
changing the color of the hair—something to 
arrest its falling out.” All Hair Restoratives, 
so-called, have been repeatedly denounced as 
humbugs in this department. Washing the 
scalp with clear, soft, cold water, and vig¬ 
orously brushing it, is the best invigorator 
for the scalp, and consequently the best re¬ 
storative for the hair. Avoid using a flno 
toothed comb. Sometimes the application 
of bay rum with water, results well. In 
any event, time is required, and you cannot 
expect to restore your hair to its wonted 
thickness in less than one or two years’ time. 
Wear your hair in finger puffs at the back, 
under a net. It is a light, airy, pretty and 
wholesome way to arrange it. 
QuCfllOUII OH Dl'CMM. 
“ Are trains to be worn in the street this 
winter?” No; and never by women of 
good taste and good sense. Nobody but an 
extravagant fool could allow her skil ls to 
sweep sidewalks. " Are cut is going out of 
style entirely ?” No. “ Are dresses to be 
worn low at the throat? ” No. “ Are me¬ 
dallions or crosses attached to lockets worn 
about tbe neck ? ” Yes ; gold necklaces are 
more fashionable than ribbon, however. 
Hoy’s Suit. 
This suit (see illustration) is designed for 
boys from five to ten years of ago. The 
vest is a real one, and contains a genuine 
pocket at one side. Two and a-half yards 
of single width makes the suit, and one and 
three-fourths of the double arc required. 
Navy blue flannel ornamented with black 
braid, as shown in the front view, makes a 
very stylish suit. For simpler trimming, 
flat braid half an inch wide is stitched on, 
as shown in engraviug. 
ClilM’s Alpaca Dreg*. 
Mrs. F. wishes to know how to make an 
alpaca dress for a girl seven years old. 
(What color?) The Gabrielle shape, with 
or without the small round jacket, is always 
a pretty, and fashionable style, and when 
worn with a sasli very stylish. Put a bias 
ruffle around tbe bottom, and from three to 
five rows of narrow velvet or braid above 
it. Trim sleeves to match, and put trimming- 
on the waist to simulate a square bertha. 
Hoy's Dross. 
A Young Mother.—G ot the plaid goods 
tor your thirteen months’ old hoy, in tbe 
