;Mobfs anb Jfi;t liners. 
<3 |P 
CHRISTMAS GIFTS. 
I WENT into Tiffany’s, yesterday, to see 
wlnit the rich people an; to have for Christ¬ 
mas gifts bronzes for ornaments, silver lor 
table service, jewels for women ; fortunes in 
diamonds, ami dowries in pearls, It is more 
a, misfortune than otherwise,I think, to rc- 
T'irc such gifts, in order to be made happy 
thereby. The simple-hearted child, who is 
delighted with a sixpenny toy, or the 
maiden whose eyes beam radiantly at the 
sigh! of a bright, hair ribbon, are the ones 
to he. envied. But as for children, their 
grandmothers must see, in those of the 
period, the appalling degeneracy of sim¬ 
plicity. Children, now-a-days, are so sur¬ 
feited with toys, as to he thoroughly dis¬ 
gusted with anything of moderate pr< - 
tensions, all of which is deplorable, ami 
nobody to be blamed but silly and indis¬ 
creet parents and friends. So long as a boy 
ikies a stick, and a girl lings a roil of ' 
calico, aud arc bappy, they need neither a i 
hobby horse with trappings, nor a wax doll A 
with blonde hair and a full set of jewelry. H 
A |>rn|io* of ttj 
The fashionable doll is a knit ted, crocheted 1 
filing. The entire dress, gown, sacque, 
shoes, mittens, turbans, muds, etc., are 
crocheted from Berlin or Shetland wool, 
made very attractive bv the ornamentation 
of worsted fringes and borders. The face is 
closely knitted, nose and all, with beads for 
eyes and artificial color daubed on where 
needed. Doll boys are fashioned to match. 
Little girls, who have deft lingers for the 
ciocliet book, have in such work ample op¬ 
portunity for the display of cleverness. 
In Dcciilimr upon Cliriiliiian Gifts, 
the question of fitness is the most, difficult to 
solve. “ Whatcail I afford?” and “ What will 
lie suitable and acceptable?” are the questions 
to be considered. With tlm majority of peo¬ 
ple, useful gifts are the most, acceptable. Half 
the articles exchanged between gift makers 
are neither useful nor sufficiently artistic to 
be endured for their supposed ornamenta¬ 
tion, and so are to be classed as pure nuis¬ 
ances. Among home-made or shop-made 
articles, what housekeeper would not appre¬ 
ciate a set of table or toilet mats, pillow i 
shields, a hearth rug, a sofa pillow or afghan, 
an ornamented bag for odds and ends, to 
hang from her work table, embroidered lam- i 
brequiiis or tidies? And what woman, maid I 
or wife, would question the eminent, fitness t 
of any of the innumerable “ iixius” that go i 
to t he making up of that subtle power known i 
ns a lady's toilet? Ah,me,I»owmany there i 
are! Gentlemen, and all others concerned, > 
attention ! Collars, cuffs, gloves, hamlker- j 
chiefs, ribbons, hair ornaments, fans, shell t 
combs, bandeaux, etc,, to say nothing of in- t 
diistrial implements, fine and delicate as a c 
stiletto or button book, or great and useful \ 
as a sewing machine. A ml what man, priest i 
or squire, would fail lo pull his goalee—if lie r 
Lad one—with a thrill of satisfaction at the r 
reception of—well,several things; handker¬ 
chiefs, large and line, with his initial em¬ 
bossed by a gentlewoman's lingers in one cor¬ 
ner,—a box of them, and a box ail prettily 
made and lined to pul them iu ; or a warm 
scarf or mittens, or imiffateos, or stockings, 
or a document case, or a pansy pocket pin- P 
cushion, like the one shown in Tig, 1, the n 
upper part of which is violet velvet, the low- c 
er part of yellow silk, with purple threads p 
radiating from the center, and with pins ft 
stuck all around the edge; or aclinic entire- s< 
lv given up to utility, (vide illustration in T 
Rural New-Yorker of Nov. 11,) made o 
beautiful with dainty upholstery, and smiling e< 
at him from his dressing bureau; or a dress- rs 
ing gown, or house jacket or slippers, if he w 
doesn’t happen to have an abundance of ii 
them left over from Christmas past; or era- si 
vat boxes, pin-cushions, slipper cases, wall re 
baskets, and, if a bachelor, lie would think in 
her a very sensible and thoughtful soul who in 
should remember him in the way of toilette 
and lamp mats, tidies, lamp shades, fire 
screens, etc. But don’t attempt to make a 
man a neck-tie. I have the testimony of a 
number of gentlemen, that no woman save 
such as work in neck-tie factories can make 
one that wifi fit and tie well. If a man is at 
all notional, it is about his neck, and a wise 
woman will let that, aud all that pertains to 
it, alone. 
Leather Work 
has been out of fashion for some time, but I 
saw some very pretty articles made of, and 
ornamented with leather, iu a very fashion- £* 
able shop, the oilier day. As an illustra- 
don, a cornucopia, nol the crooked kind, c< ‘ 
hut a square piece of pasteboard folded so 
as to form a funnel shape, The lining was 
of silk, and the outside of a very light shade (m 
of leather, possibly kid or sheepskin ; the u,, 
top was pinked, and tiny (lowers, leaves ,, 0 
and tendrils of leather formed the orua- ur< 
mentation, with small bows and edges of eS | 
ribbon or silk ; now and then a leaf or row W I 
t>f petals were colored a deeper shade, but tin 
no oil or varnish was used; a cord and 
tassel, or ribbon to hang them up; if de¬ 
signed for tapers, send them filled with the 
trimmest you can make. A document case 
for a gentleman’s pocket, is also made of 
leather; Russia is the finest. A piece half 
a yard long, and from six to eight inches 
wide, will make one of medium size. Fold 
the ends over the long way so they nearly 
meet in the middle, so as to form pockets; 
line the inside throughout, witli silk, sewing 
lie Naturalist. 
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 
In answer to F. F. Brooks’ inquiry about 
“ an unknown bird,” I would say that from 
the description I should judge it to be a 
“ Rose-breasted Grosbeak,” (Guiraca Ludo- 
viciana.) The following is a description 
me that lie kept one of these birds for a 
considerable time, in a cage, and observed 
that it frequently sang at. night, and ail 
night; that its notes were extremely dear 
and mellow, and the sweetest of any bird 
with which he is acquainted.” In the young 
state the breast is white; changes to rose 
and yellow with the season. 
The description of F. F. Brooks tallies 
with this bird in every particular, and I do 
not hesitate to assure him,or her,that we have 
1.-WALL POUKET. 
Uic clses most imlly. Into the pookels fouml in Sum', Ornithology: 
can be placed letters; cards, papers, etc., the jt.,/, _jr 
pockets then folded against each other, and an( j nc( ,|. .. ’ , S *» encra W1 1 ea 
carried iu the coat poSut. ft. behalf of - - ‘ K s'*V •>'“* i » bread 
Clan Gifts, 
crescent across (lie upper part of tho breast, 
extending narrowly down to the belly ; aux- 
such as church members make to pastors diaries and, under wing coverts, carmine; 
ami pupils to teachers, allow the suggestion rest of under parts, rump ami upper tail 
to be made that the pastor be given not a coverts, middle wing coverts, spots on the 
Lible nor the toucher a book or album. In tertiaries and inner of real wing coverts 
ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, either basal half of primaries and secondaries and 
would prefer a silk umbrella, a pair of fur a large patch ou the ends of the inner webs 
gloves, an easy chair, a box of stationery, a of the outer three tail leathers pure white • 
gold pen and Inkstand, or a dozen damask the black feathers of the hack ami sides of 
t.nvels, well marked. the neck have a sub-terminal while bar. 
But with all your giving, do not forget the Female .—Without the white quills, tail 
-HALL POCKET. 
| the common name and learned synonyms— 
the latter only in part, however.—J. Stauf¬ 
fer, Luna inter, Pa. 
-♦♦♦- 
A White I'ui'tviilKO, 
Says the Scottisli Farmer, “ was lately seen 
in a turnip field near Bridekirk, Cumber¬ 
land. It was one of a covey of five, but. the 
remaining four exhibited no marks of pecu¬ 
liarity.” 
tiirbmr. 
neglected ones whom Santa Claus lias an 4 rump, and without any black or 
long been in the habit of letting severely red ; above yd low iah-bren with 
alone. People who always receive gilts wiU darker; head with a central stripe above 
not think that love has died out of the world a, 'd !l superciliary on each side, white- he- 
if they are left out in the cold one Christ¬ 
inas. But the poor wretches, the poverty- 
stricken ones, the lonely, friendless souls in 
your neighborhood, do need some visible 
token of your thoughtfulness to assure them 
Unit “ peace ou earth and good will to men ” 
exists tills anniversary of Christ’s Birth. A 
very simple remembrance may carry light 
into such a soul and may be the means of 
regenerating it. And now, “ finally,” a mer¬ 
ry, precious Christmas to you all! 
Mintwood. 
MINT WOOD’S CONVERSAZIONE. JiT 
mmr 
Wnl! l’ockctu. 
We give herewith illustrations of two wall 
pockets, which are both “ ornamental and 
useful.” They may be used for visiting 
cards, letters, papers, sewing materials, slip¬ 
pers, and various odds and ends. Almost 
any kind of material may be used, but 
something bright lias more attractiveness. 
Those the drawings were made from were 
ol silk. Fig. I., of blue silk, lined with corn 
color, w ith cord of blue and gold, and with 
raised embroidery in silk. Fig. II is faced 
with embroidered velvet and lined with silk 
in solid si i ipes. The framework is cut from 
stiff paper. When designed with especial 
reference to slippers, the pocket is cut quite 
iu the shape of a slipper, with a loop at the 
licei from which it is lu.ing. Ftfir Christmas 
BEAD MOSAIC FOR LAMBREQUIN. 
gifts they form pretty objects for devoted 
fingers to manulactiirc, and are always ac¬ 
ceptable to men or women. 
II‘‘ii(I .Ronnie lor La nil>i-f(f uiu . 
Beads of two colors, with a row of large 
ones at the top strung on a small wire and 
the other strung crosswise on threads, com¬ 
pose the materials for this pattern. They 
are pretty lor brackets, mantel pieces and 
especially lor the edge of window seats 
which are cushioned for the winter to keep 
the cold out. 
Fig. 1.—Pocket Pin-Cusiiion. 
neatli dirty white, streaked with brown on 
tbe breast and sides; under wing coverts 
and auxiliaries saffron yellow. Length, 
eight and fifty one-hundredths inches; wing, 
four ami fifteen one-bun'dredllis inches. In 
habits, Eastern United States to the Mis¬ 
souri plains ; south to Guatemala.— Sports¬ 
man. 
On page 307, Dec. 9, current volume of 
the Rural New-Yorker, F F. Brooks of 
Spring Greek, Pa., describes a bird which no 
one seems to know what lie is, and refers to 
the Ruialists for a name. The bird, by his 
description, is evidently the bird known as 
the “ Rosc-lireasted Grosbeak.” Swajnson 
lias established the genus Guiraca, and the 
scientific name of this bird is Guiraca ludo- 
viciaua, also Coniaphea ludoviciana. It, is 
closely allied lo the FnngiUa i, or Buntings, 
characterized by a broad-based, sharp point¬ 
ed, strong conical bill. A memorandum 
from the nolo book of Dr. Micheneu, of a 
bird killed by Mr. Townsend, near New 
Garden, Chester Co., Pa., reads thus: 
May 11,183-3.— This morning I. K. Town¬ 
send, iu company with John Richards, 
shot, a bunting in Wm. Brown’s cedar bustl¬ 
es, which is believed to he a nondescript. 
We bad given it the provisional name (until 
further examined) of Emberka albujula, or 
\\ hdc-Lkroaled Hunting. From specimens 
before me, mounted, one has the under wings 
red, while the spot on the breast is of a yel¬ 
lowish brown or ocher color. These birds 
feed on the fruit of the Gum, Ash, and 
other native trees; are some seasons abun¬ 
dant, others rare. W ilson says in his work, 
page 182, where lie describes the “ Rose- 
breasted Grosbeak” as “ Lexia rosea —“ A 
gentleman of Middletown, Conn., informed 
• GARDEN NOTES. 
Trophy Tomato Seed Swindle. 
I noticed iu late numbers of the Rural 
New-Yorker complaints about the Trophy 
Tomato. My impression is there lias been a 
pretty big swindle somewhere in selling what 
purported to be genuine Trophy seed. I 
procured the seed last spring from Head¬ 
quarters; sowed it. iu a hot-bed quite late. 
When the plants were two inches high, 
transplanted to light, rich soil; no extra cul¬ 
tivation. The result was, vines loaded with 
large, luscious fruit, surpassing in flavor any 
tomato Ave ever saw; attracting the atten¬ 
tion of neighbors far and near, and resulting 
in a good many applicants for seed. We 
raised the Grant, hut could sell the Trophy 
when the former would go begging for pur¬ 
chasers. 
In fruit and vegetables, the main point is 
fine flavor; in Unit respect we have not tast¬ 
ed any tomato equal to the Trophy. We 
do not think it is any earlier than the Grant 
or Titden; neither is the fruit all smooth 
and round as often represented ; on the con* 
trary, a good many are rough. Tis product¬ 
iveness, solidilily and excellent flavor, give 
it a superiority over any variety we have 
as yet seen. As it is a vigorous grower, 
heavy foliage and large vine, it requires fight’ 
rieli soil and good cultivation. Plants 
should be not less than four feet apart eacli 
way.— L. G., Springfield, Mo. 
About OnioiiM. 
Will some one please inform me about 
how much seed (how many pounds and 
. mature specimens would certainly be as ob¬ 
jectionable as very small ones. Scullions 
should never be used for this purpose, and 
1 wo would put them into the compost heap 
instead of trying lo dispose of them in any 
: other way. 
Hook on Market Garden!me. 
I am going on sixteen acres of land three 
miles from Rockford, III., tin cl want to ask 
you what is tlm best book on MUrket Gar¬ 
dening— one Hint will tell me how lo pre¬ 
pare the ground, put iu the seed, cultivate 
and market in this climate.—j. s. l. 
1 he best book we know of is “ Money in 
the Garden,” for sale at Ibis office at $150. 
^■*-— —=3> 
Gj> 
jpomcrlrrgrcal. 
POMOLOGIOAIi GOSSIP. 
Tho Itlplcy Apple. 
w. C. Flagg, Alton, HI., iu Journal of 
Horticulture, stales that, lie lias received a 
new Illinois apple from J. 8. Peers, Collins¬ 
ville, III., said to bu a seedling from a tree 
planted ten years ago by N. Ii. Ritley of 
Collinsville, lor which lie suggests the inline 
“ Ripley,” and describe,, it us follows:—The 
fruit is medium to large in size, oblate in 
form, and generally somewhat conical ; 
halves unequal, making it somewhat lop¬ 
sided. The specimens sent, which are under 
tbe average size, measure three inches in 
breadth by two and five-eighths in bight. 
The calyx is large anil closed, Hie stem 
medium in length and rather slender. The 
skin is smooth and shining, and Hie color a 
greenish ground, nearly covered with a bril¬ 
liant crimson, and marked with numerous 
white dots. Flesh white, firm, moderately 
juicy; sub-acid, and in quality “ very good” 
to ‘‘best.” Cure rather small, and closed, 
so as to make the center of the apple nearly 
solid. Henson, tho present, year* last of 
August and first September; but this is ex¬ 
ceptionally early. The tree is said to bo 
thrifty, well shaped, and tolerably pro¬ 
ductive. 
Curin«lty Apple. 
We have received a specimen of this new 
apple from its originator, G. Y. D. Brand, 
Wapim, Wis. It. is a seedling from the 
Surprise and lias a red flesh like its parent. 
The skin is white ivitli a crimson cheek. In 
form it. differs somewhat from Its parent, 
being more oblate, but is little, if any, supe¬ 
rior in quality. It is claimed thut Curiosi¬ 
ty is a long keeper and succeeds admirable in 
Wisconsin; otherwise we should hardly 
think it worthy of a name or dissemination. 
Grit pom From Seed. 
Will you please inform me through Hie 
Rural New-Youker when and how to 
plant grape seeds so that they will come up? 
—A Subscriber. 
Grape seed grow as readily as wheal or 
corn if sown before they have become very 
dry. As soon as they are taken out of the 
grape, soav in some half-shady border in the 
garden or in pots or boxes. 
arsnmnt. 
rt? '%\ 
# S? 
INITIAL LETTERS. 
ounces) a bushel of common sized onions 
will raise, and what sized onions are best 
and most, profitable from which to raise 
seed i". e., very large, medium sized, or 
small onions? Will “Scullions” or those 
onions which have large necks and their 
tops remaining green alter the main crop is 
ripe ami harvested, do for raising seed ? It 
not, what is ihc best use they cun be put to? 
—J. T. 1\, Mount Pleasant , Iowa. 
We lmve no statistics or experience that 
will aid us in answering your first question. 
Tho quantity of seed that can he produced 
from a bushel of onions must be known t,o 
our seed growers, but it is no doubt quite 
variable. The best bulbs to plant are the 
large and fully ripened; but overgrown, un- 
1 NOTES FOR HORSEMEN. 
For Curb unit hpliul. 
The following is recoin mondial:—Take 
of powdered cantharidcs and oil of tur¬ 
pentine, of each two drachms; powdered 
euphorhimn and oil of origanum, of each 
one drachm; lard, two ounces—mix, and 
apply with considerable friction. 
“ Qolddust ," tbe property of L. L. Dorsey, 
died December 3rd, of inflammation. lie 
was sixteen years old, and the sire of many 
very fine colts. 
“ Humblctonian” the stallion, is alive and 
ueii at Chester, Orange Co., N. Y. 
“Harry Basset” the three-year old, is to 
he backed to run against “Lexington’s” 
four-mile time—7 minutes and 19% seconds 
—on the Saratoga Course. 
Cracked Hoof Iu IIorni*n. 
In Rural New Yorker of Nov. 25lh, 
somebody asks for a cure for a cracked hoof. 
Having had some experience with cracked 
hoofs, I give Hie following as a sure remedy: 
Shoe the foot with a new, heavy shoe, with 
a heavy bar across the heel. 'I’ lie horse can 
be worked every day It will operate equally 
as well on a quarter crack as split hoof. 
To Kill Lieu. 
In every issue some one is inquiring how 
to kill lice. Having had seven or eight 
years’ experience with lice mi human as 
well as brute creation, I find nothing like 
salt. Wash horses, Colts, cows, or calves, 
with a brine as strong as it, can be made. It 
is a dead sure shot.—1*. Green, Bath, N. Y. 
SlnbbtM-iiiff IIoi-mi-m. 
Give daily, for two weeks or more, one 
spoonful of iron scales, such iih may lie 
taken from Hie anvil block where horse 
nails are made. Mix with oafs or other 
feed. Have tried it with good success.—P. 
M., Fredonia, N. Y. 
