mings of silk. Figs. 4147 and 4153 illustrate 
two styles of basque. Price of pattern for 
each, 30 cents. 
In tunics there is an almost infinite com¬ 
plication of styles and arrangement, with 
loops, puffs and sashes at the back enough to 
distract an unsophisticated seamstress. Such 
arrangements, unless adjusted with a great 
deal of skill and worn with an equal amount, 
very soon look exceedingly ugly. However, 
the era of simplicity now in vogue restores 
to us the prettiest of all tunics, of which the 
Figs. 4131 and 4140 present a good idea. An 
elastic, or tapes, holding back the tunic, fas¬ 
ten eel at the side shirrs, is indispensable. 
Price for either of these patterns, 80 cents. 
Figs. 4120 represent a model stylo of walk¬ 
ing-jacket for the intermediate seasons. Al¬ 
most any kind of firm material may be used 
in its construction, and bands of silk or vel¬ 
vet on the. bias be used as heading for frirge 
in trimming. If made up in black it is suit¬ 
able for any dress ; but if in color, it should 
match or harmonize well with the color of 
dress to be worn with it. Its upright, mili¬ 
tary collar will be a favorite style for cold 
weather on all winter garments. Three 
yards and a half of goods 27 inches wide 
will cut this garment for a lady of medium 
size. Price of pattern, 30 cents. 
The colors known as seat brown, navy blue, 
prime, invisible green—in brief, all dark 
shades so dark as to be neutral, are fashion¬ 
able. Very much bright color also bright¬ 
ens the dress of the period, but it is confined 
to the decorations of hats and bonnets, and 
neck ties. Li ;ht gloves will bo worn with 
all costumes ; except in mourning, black kid 
gloves are now rarely seen. Lace is largely 
introduced as an ad junct to the toilet. Silk 
comfort than those intended for women, 
which usually extend hut a little way below 
the knee ; therefore, imitate the example of 
all wise women and choose men’s drawers 
ing of Geraniums—it is far hotter to take a 
cutting or so ahout. the first of September 
from all the varieties we wish to retain for 
another season than to rc-pot the old roots. 
Use boxes six inches deep, half filled with 
moss, siftings, or any light material. Fill in 
the rest to within an inch of the top with 
silver sand. In a box 15 inches square 75 
cuttings may be rooted in from two to four 
weeks. Another way, and a good way, 
using the same sort of a box, is, instead of 
the pure sand, to fill with garden soil, leaf 
mold and sand in equal parts, well mixed 
and sifted. This may be left out-of-doors 
and exposed to full sunshine if care be given 
to moisture, only protecting ft against rains 
and from the coid of night by a pane of glass 
a little larger than the box, placed sufficiently 
above it upon sticks or a frame ; or the box 
may be taken iuto the house at night or 
during heavy rains. 
Though too late for the latter, It is now a 
good time for the former method of propa¬ 
gation. The sand should be kept just moist 
and the box be placed in a window where it 
will receive the morning sun. This seems to 
us a far better plan—better, because it is 
surer and less trouble — than planting the 
cuttings in the garden, where they are ex- 
Note.— Patterns furnished at this Office for 
all fashion illustrations given. Ladies sending 
for patterns will please send bust and waist 
measure, for upper garments; for full costume 
add the length of the skirt in front. These pre¬ 
cautions are necessary in order to insure pat¬ 
terns of the proper size. 
AUTUMNAL STYLES. 
As we are very close followers in the walks 
of Parisian fashions, it may be well to state 
for yourselves. Perhaps, after a time, the 
manufacturers will have learned wisdom. 
As the Rural intends to fill the depart¬ 
ment of “Modes and Manners” with the 
most practical matter attainable the coming 
year, our readers will lend encouragement 
to the project by writing freely to us of their 
needs aud wishes in any and every depart¬ 
ment of their home life. Mintwood. 
at the outset that the latest importation of 
costumes consists of a very long polonaise and 
narrow petticoat, with a plaited flounce 
around the bottom, not over three or four 
inches wide. The polonaise is very long in 
the waist, as all corsages are now made, 
short, on the shoulders and quite devoid of 
trimming, except large, square pockets, deep 
cuffs and collar and handsome buttons ; the 
width of the petticoat at the bottom is not 
over three yards ; it is closely gored in front 
and at the sides, with the entire fullness in 
the back. For all purposes but for full dress 
the costume is complete—is warm, light, 
readily adjusted and elegant. All crinoline 
is discarded, even including the tournure, so 
that the wearer presents an appearance as 
closely approaching her real form divine as 
modest drapery will allow. For this let us 
give thanks 1 There is a dignity and grace 
about the natural outlines and movements 
of the human form when simply draped that 
are infinitely superior to a figure tricked out 
in higher fashionable toggery. Simplicity is 
almost invariably an attendant upon true 
greatness. The woman with a truly refined 
THE FLOWER GARDEN 
PROLONOlNt! BUMMER 
Doubtless many of our readers have ere 
this (Oct. 12) potted their Pelargoniums and 
removed them to windows <>r conservatories. 
Notwithstanding the briefness of our flow¬ 
er season, that begins to prepare for depart¬ 
ure before it is well settled - • before it has 
half realized the hopes which we cherished 
of it in spring—many seem to hurry up its 
departure by removing many bedding plant s 
full a month before there is any necessity 
for it. 
We find a general impression that Gerani¬ 
ums are killed by frost. IS beets aud cover¬ 
ings arc placed in readiness and the proba¬ 
bilities of a frosty night watched with anxi¬ 
ety. This is “ love’s labor lost.” They will 
not only stand slight frosts, but frequent 
and heavy ones. 
Within a stone’s throw are upward of a 
thousand Pelargoniums that within the past 
two weeks have been exposed to the nightly 
posed to mishaps and require a good deal of 
watering, shuding and general attention. 
As for the old plants, if wo still feel a 
weakness for them and a pang about leaving 
them out to perish, wait until the tops have 
been severely injured, say about the first of 
November; cut them off to within an inch 
or so of the roots ; cut off all long, bald 
roots, leaving only the fibrous mass ; put in 
ordiuary soil well lightened with sand, and 
then place them for a week in the cellar or 
in a darkened, close room. They will push 
forth new buds at once and make a thriftier, 
more symmetrical aud foiiaceous growth 
than if the old plants were re-potted entire. 
The careless practice of placing freshly- 
potted plants—no matter what they are— 
where they are still exposed to the light, air 
and vviud, though entirely shaded from the 
sun, is utterly injurious. Evaporation of the 
parts of the plant goes on, and the leaves 
and stems must suffer until the root is re-es¬ 
tablished in its new quarters. 
If there is no room to cultivate certain 
Geraniums which we desire to keep through 
the winter, we know of no better plan than 
to dig them up with all the earth that will 
adhere to the roots and, placing them in the 
cellar, cover with sand. The sand will pre¬ 
serve sufficient moisture and watering will 
prove unnecessary. 
neck ties are frilled, the ends with Valenci¬ 
ennes or point applique, or the lace is at¬ 
tached by ties of fine white batiste. Lace is 
used considerably on dress bonnets. In the 
matter of head wear, hats of felt and fur 
will predominate for the winter ; heavy 
straws will be worn until mid-December. 
The most favorite styles for out door wear 
are such as shade the forehead and eyes, ap¬ 
proaching in form what is known as the 
English walking hat. Soft ribbons will take 
the plica of the long ends of grenadine and 
tulle, so largely used on summer hats, and 
will be tied or wound in a similar manner 
about the throat. The wings of birds of al¬ 
most every description are used largely on 
hat garniture. Ducks’ and pigeons’ wings 
are greatly in demand, a fashion making 
most farmerines supply at least one demand 
of their millinery. 
But above all other matters of toilet, re¬ 
member that warmth, for the days that are 
already upon us, and which arc yet to come 
for many a week, is the chief item. High 
necked and long sleeved woolen chemises, 
with flannel drawers reaching quite to the 
frosts which are early to visit this northern- 
exposed valley. Yet the foliage has not 
suffered, and here and there Btill a truss un¬ 
folds two or three flowers during the day to 
disappear during the frosty night. The fo¬ 
liage, in fact, is prettier than ever, the 
Bronzes more bronze, and the plain Zonales 
showing a darker, heavier zone than at any 
previous period. Thus these beds of beauti¬ 
ful foliage are preserved late into the fall, 
and summer’s beauties yet in part remain in 
the place of the plots of earth that, naked 
and cheerless, remind ns needlessly of win¬ 
ter too long before it comes, and it comes 
but too soon. 
And this endurance of early frosts which 
is true of Pelargoniums is just as true of 
many ether house plants that are torn from 
the borders long before there is need of it. 
AbutilonS are now prettier than ever, hav¬ 
ing grown to little trees thick with the pret¬ 
tiest of foliage, while not a leaf has been 
seared or cut off. 
Oleanders are blooming, while such plants 
as Antirrhinums. Verbenas and Pansies are 
at their best. 
Propagating Pelargoniums,- Rut speak- 
and artistic nature will choose a rich gar¬ 
ment simply made to one of inferior fabric 
unduly ornamented. 
With the same importation came house 
and dinner dresses of “ Princess ” shape, 
better known among us as the “Gabrielle” 
form ; these, with trimmings only on the 
front, are the most charming dress a comely 
woman ever wore. 
Costumes of two shades continue to be 
fashionable as ever. They suit well the 
pinching limes, whieb demand close economy 
in all directions. 
Old dresses that have been folded away 
for years iu drawers and closets may, under 
this double-shaded regime , be brought forth 
to do good duty. Scanty silk dresses, with 
the aid of cashmere, merino, ladies’ cloth, 
serge, or any of the numerous styles of 
plaided goods, may be transformed into 
beautiful garments. The petticoat and the 
sleeves should be of the silk, and the basque 
and tunic of the woolen fabric, with trim- 
Cleansing the roots and hanging them up, 
a.s has been advocated, does not answer. 
E. S. Carman, 
River Edge, Bergen Co., N. J. 
Many kinds of hardy flowers should be 
sown in the fall, not covered but left on the 
surface of the ground, to get an early start 
next spring 
heels, over which draw the stockings, are 
indispensable. If you purchase the woven 
underclothing, you wifi find the drawers 
made for men much more sensibly made for 
