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NEW YORK, JANUARY, 1877. 
OUT-DOOR RUSTIC WORK. 
When Mildred and I visited the city in May, we spent 
a considerable portion of our time around the different 
greenhouses, and returned seriously infected with what 
father termed the “rustic fever.” We had a large 
grassy lawn dotted with shrubs, roses, and roomy beds 
filled with thrifty plants. But our hearts longed for 
baskets and vases. A certain vacant spot was exactly 
fitted for that forty dollar rustic vase v e saw at the 
florist’s, and on each side of the verandah steps was a 
place for those elegant things in iron we so much ad¬ 
mired, and in our roomy verandah could swing a dozen 
lovely terra-cotta pots. But all these expensive arti¬ 
cles were beyond our means. 
“ If this were a laurel-growing country we might 
make rustic-baskets,” I suggested. “ Of laurel roots, 
cedar and pine branches, we are destitute,” answered 
Mildred, “ but we have grape-vine and green briar 
roots, knotted and tangled, and all the unexplored re¬ 
sources of the woods to draw from ; let us see what we 
can do.” 
It was June before we got fairly started, but in two 
or three weeks we worked wonders. We read “ Win¬ 
dow Gardening,” and everything else in our reach on 
the subject of rustic decoration. We observed, ques¬ 
tioned and invented. We ransacked the garret and 
brought out the trash. We explored the woods and 
returned loaded. All the odds and ends of the earth 
were to us available. Wooden bowls spoilt or worn 
through by vigorous chopping, aged keelers and 
warped peck measures were treasures. Those of suit¬ 
able size were turned into hanging-baskets, furnished 
with grape-vine handles, and covered with grape-vine 
branches and roots, crooked sticks, knots and the roots 
of green briar and briar-rose. By cleaning the roots 
thoroughly and finishing with a coat of copal varnish, 
we managed without laurel roots to equal the rustic 
baskets of the florists. Other baskets were made of 
sweet gum balls. We pierced holes through the centre 
of every ball, strung them on wire, and beginning at 
the bottom, shaped the string of balls into a basket 
jastening it in place by other wires extending from 
bottom to the top. Baskets of acorns were made in the 
same manner and varnished. 
Of the larger bowls and measures we made vases, 
ornamenting them as we did the baskets. Eor stems 
or standards we got pronged saplings, cut the prongs 
off so that they rested firmly on the ground as feet, 
made the upright stems of suitable length, peeled off 
the bark and nailed the prepared vase to the top. 
Then grape-vines were twisted about the stem and 
prongs, and the whole varnished. A handsome double 
or two-story vase for the verandah was made in this 
wise; Brother Rob, to whom we appealed all our 
difficulties, procured a number of maple sticks three 
inches in diameter, and split off the four sides. Each 
end of these split pieces was rounded, one end being 
made thinner and narrower than the other. Then 
they were nailed to an oval board, bottom sawed 
slanting, and the tops tacked to a wide strong hoop 
on the inside, and the result was a flariug basket, four¬ 
teen inches deep. It was finished with a grape-vine 
hoop tacked on the outside at the top and bottom. A 
peeled three-inch stick, three feet long, was nailed to 
the centre of the bottom for a stem for the upper vase. 
This upper vase was a hexagon box of planed oak, 
ornamented with pine cones and acoms tacked and 
glued on, and with a pine cone tassel at each corner. 
The bottom vase and stem were stained as near oak 
color as possible, and the whole affair varnished. This 
was filled entirely with ferns with moss at their roots, 
and partridge berry wandering over the edges. 
Another lovely double vase was entirely original, 
with us at least. A three-inch square post was set 
firmly standing three feet above the ground, and 
surmounted by an octagon box. Then we covered both 
box and standard with pebbles, stuck in putty, and 
piled up a small rockery around the base. In the box 
were Ice and Dew Plants, their succulent leaves har¬ 
monizing with the gray pebbles. From a pot, con¬ 
cealed by moss, a small English Ivy vine twined 
around the standard, and in the crevices of the rocks, 
well filled with rich earth, flourished “Moneywort, 
Sweet Alyssum, Lobelia, Verbena, Nolana, etc. 
Other vases and baskets were formed of rough boxes 
covered with bark dotted with clusters of lichens and 
tufts of gray moss. Others were log-cabins made of 
inch sticks of maple or other wood, with the bark left 
on and cut into lengths of ten, .twelve or more inches, 
according to the size desired. A gimlet hole was 
bored an inch from each end of the sticks, and they 
were laid together, log-cabin fashion, and fastened by 
passing a wire with a loop on the upper end through 
the holes and on through corresponding holes in a 
board-bottom, and clinched on the under side. Be¬ 
cause of the interstices, we lined with moss before filling. 
Still we had not made anything satisfactory to be 
placed near the Verandah steps. Something entirely 
different from the others, and solid-looking, was Mil¬ 
dred’s idea. One day she exclaimed, “ I have an in¬ 
spiration ! You remember the sanded depot building 
at L-? If I only could get a foundation to suit 
me.” We needed the aid of a better workman than 
Rob, and counseled with a carpenter accommodating 
atid inventive. Thrice blest is the woman who can 
find such a carpenter ! In a few days he brought our 
vases of wood. A handsomely-moulded pedestal sup¬ 
porting an octagonal box, so contrived and finished 
with moulding as to closely resemble some styles of 
marble or stone work. We painted them a brownish 
gray, and sifted fine sand over them while wet. When 
put in place and filled, our visitors thought that they 
were of sandstone. Florence. 
AWARD OF PRIZES. 
The Awards of Prizes for Floral and Household Articles has been 
made as follows: 
Floral Articles. 
1st Prize—To Mrs. James Stewart, Peabody, Kansas, for article en¬ 
titled “My Afternoon at Mrs. Briggs’.” 
2nd Prize—To Mrs. M. J. Giddings, Weston, Mass., for article en¬ 
titled “ Floral Items.” 
3d Prize—To articles as follows: “Flowers for House and Garden,” 
by Eben E. liexford, •• A Bit of Christmas Green,” by Mrs. M. F. B. 
Atkinson. “ My Fern Window.” by Mrs. K L. Carter '• My Con¬ 
servatory,” by Mrs. J. H. Biggs. “Flower Fancies,” by Mrs. Geo. 
Katon. “ Lily Flowers.” by Mis. Kate Madigin. “ Plant Windows 
and Window Plants.” by Jennie M. Chatterton. “ Wintering Plants 
in Cellars,’ by F. A Ailing. “Floral Decorations in Our Bay Win¬ 
dow,” by Ella S. i helps. “Rustic Work,” by Liza Hodgson “In¬ 
door and Out-door Culture of Window Hants,” by L. K. Share. 
Household Articles. 
1st Prize to articles—“ Home Furnishing with Small Means,” by 
Mrs M. Plumstead, Jr. 
2nd Prize—“ My breakfast Shawl and What Became of It,” by Mrs. 
Edward Higby. 
8d Prizes" to “ Lambrequin,” by Mrs. E. R, Barnes. “ Our Sitting- 
Room,” by Augusta Delmer. •• Our Sewing Bees," by E. M. R. 
“ The Ladies’ Floral Cabinet,” by Maria 8. Fergus. Some Hints 
to Country Girls About their Bed-Rooms,” by A. P. Blankhead. 
“Useful Elegancies,” by Mrs. J. K. Byrnes. “My Room.” by Ellen 
0. Wright. “ My Guest Chamber,” by Kate Hilliard. “Pictures as 
Furniture.” by Miss M. C. Emmentrout. “How I Improved Our 
Home,” by Bertie Luepron. 
Cooking Receipts. 
The Award of Prizes must be deferred till the February Number. 
Over 10,000 receipts were forwarded for competition, and it is physi¬ 
cally impossible to conclude the work of examination before February. 
The receipts are all splendid—the best collection ever known to 
American housekeepers, and we thank our correspondents deeply for 
their cordial help and interest. 
PUBLISHER’S AHNOUNCEMEHTS. 
Back Volumes. —New subscribers, who are pleased with The 
Floral Cabinet, will And in hack volumes an immense fund of 
delightful reading, pictures, and the choicest of family music; there 
are single pieces of music so sweet and charming as to be alone 
worth the price for a volume. We will club these together with 
subscription for 18TT, as follows : 
$2.00 Will pay for subscription 187T, the steel plate engraving, and all 
the back numbers of 1876, January to September. 
3.00 will include all of 1877,1S76, and 1875. 
4.00 “ “ “ “ “ and 1874. 
5.00 “ “ “ “ “ “ and 1S73. 
Bound volumes for each year will cost 65 cts. for each volume in 
addition to above prices. 
Books cn sale Agents Wanted.— Our Household Books 
are so popular, and so sure to delight the ladies, that to any subscri¬ 
ber, club agent, or agent, who can sell copies among their friends, we 
will give special commissions. They may purchase of us. and we 
will take back all they cannot sell, and refund the money. 
Prizes for Clubs. —A Prince Parlor Organ, worth $100. is given 
to the club agent who gets up largest club for 1877. See Oct. Num¬ 
ber and Premium List for other Prizes. 
Back Numbers— Many whose subscriptions began with the 
January Number, and wish back copies from the commencement of 
the s ory, “ Winnifred’s Will,” can obtain them for 33 cents 
No Trial Trip.— The Trial Trip offer expired Jan. 1st, and is not 
now open to acceptance. Any one wishing Numbers of this year 
must remit full price. 
MAGNIFICENT NEW FLORAL PREMIUMS. 
“ The Floral Cabinet ” Collection of N ew Seedling 
Gladiolus. —This is a new collection, never before offered, grown 
exclusively for us, which consists of twelve flowering bulbs of Gladi¬ 
olus, of toe finest quality and most exquisite variety of colors. The 
quality of this collection unequalled, anti la e rery respect, we can 
safeiy guarantee them extra choice. The same quality of named 
varieties of Gladiolus, obtained of reliable seedsmen, would cost $12. 
The colors range from the most fiery scarlet to the purest white. 
Offer No. 1.—This collection, worth $12. will be given free to any 
person who will raise a club of 15 subscribers to the Floral Cabinet 
at $1.30, and also an extra copy of paper 1 year, free to agent. 
Offer No. 2.—To any one who will get up a clubof20 subscribers 
at $1.30 we will give sufficient bulbs that the members of the club 
may have each 1 bulb worth $1, and the club agent the entire set of 
12, also with extra copy of paper free 1 year. 
Offer No. 3.—One subscription at $3, will give subscriber the 
Cabinet 1 year and coliection free, all worth $15. 
This collection is not for sale by any seed house, and cannot be ob¬ 
tained at any other place, and all are new seedling varieties just 
originated. 
The Floral Cabinet Collection of Balsams.— This com¬ 
prises the best strains of Camellia-flowered Balsams ever offered. 
The Balsam is a great favorite with the ladies. This collection is the 
very cream of the extra choicest sorts ever raised Its value may be 
judged when the seedsmen have offered 10 cents a seed for all that 
can be spared. We. know there is nothing in Europe or America to 
equal them. The collection consists of 6 packets, pure white, deep 
rich purple, brilliant scarlet, crimson spotted, velvet violet spotted, 
and carnation striped. The flowers are so large and perfect as to be 
almost equal to roses. The set is worth $1.50 at least, and can be ob¬ 
tained only on the folio wing terms: 
No. ].—A club of 10 subscribers to Floral Cabinf.t. at $1.30, will 
entitle club agent to 1 set of above packets, $1 50, and 1 extra copy 
of Cabinet and engraving free. 
No. 2.—A subscription of $2 to Cabinet will entitle subscriber to 
the paper and collection in addition. 
No. 3.—A club of 4 subscribers at $1.30 will entitle agent to the 
collection free, as a premium. 
No. 4.—A club of 20 subscribers, at $1.30 each, will entitle club 
agent to enough packets to present each member of the club with 
the collection, worth $1.50. also the Cabinet and engraving 1 year, 
(all together worth $3.80) and the club agent to extra set of paper, en¬ 
graving, and collection, free. 
The supply is limited, and those who desire them will do well to 
get clubs in as soon as possible. 
These collections of Balsams and Gladiolus are named specially 
after the Floral Cabinet, and we are very cautious never to send 
out anything but just as represented. The good name and fame, 
and honor of the Cabinet is the best endorsement of these new 
floral collections, which are oi extraordinary value. 
