FLORAL HINTS. 
Few realize what may he acquired, in the course of 
years, by a taste for flowers. While seeking the best 
for these household companions, knowledge flows in, 
a refining influence, pleasant acquaintances are formed 
through mutual interests, and in the family a per¬ 
verted taste is often converted into a pure one. The 
presence of these beautiful creations cannot hut have 
an elevating effect on the mind. They are compan¬ 
ions in solitude, a resource to the invalid, a recreation 
for the tired business man, and an education for the 
young. 
A woman much given to the study and cultivation 
of flowers, is seldom given to vanity, or a surplus of 
personal adornment. One appreciating natural beauty 
generally desires it in the household arrangements, 
and makes neatness beautiful. 
In preparing for the culture of flowers, if some sys¬ 
tem is practised it will save time, loss of plants, and 
much confusion. 
To treat flowers rightly, we must learn their needs, 
and to do this we should know their nature, their 
haunts, and the degree of heat needed. For this we 
must have books, or the experience of others. It is, 
therefore, well to try, in however humble a way, to 
accumulate books of reference. Catalogues may form 
a beginning, These frequently describe new plants 
and their culture, and can be bad for the asking by 
postal card, by sending a stamp, or for a trifle in 
money. Lists of desirable books are published in 
floral or agricultural papers. 
Next to these is a note-book in which to jot down 
your own experience, and those of the flower-loving 
sisterhood about you. One lady has, perhaps, a spe¬ 
cial fancy, and she is sure to know how the plant she 
loves is to be treated, or what promotes success with 
her. You will be surprised, in time, at what you have 
learned in this way ; for many ladies experiment, and 
therefore learn new ways to success. Note the time 
of putting in and out of your plants, the repotting of 
rare ones, and the earth used ; also the consequent 
success or failure. Put down the time of the budding 
and blooming of flowers, and if the time varies, the 
cause of the delay, or hastened maturity. 
Make a list of your plants each year, using their 
proper or botanical names as fast as you learn them, 
so that they may become familiar to you in catalogues 
and books of reference or travel. 
Label your plants carefully, or you will be liable to 
mistakes in the identity of your pets. The labels 
should be painted white, as they last much longer if 
painted, and retain the pencil marks, which soon wash 
off, otherwise. 
Try to have a few new plants each year, as they 
will add to the interest as well as to your knowledge 
and experience. If you have special fancies, try to 
get the best varieties of each favorite. It is wasting 
time to spend the "care of a season on an indifferent 
specimen. ‘-Well loved, well served,” says the pro¬ 
verb, and it will apply to plants as well as friends. 
Let, then, the thrifty appearance of your plants testify 
to your thoughtful care and a true knowledge of their 
needs. 
There should be, if possible, always at baud some 
good earth, or better still, a variety of mixed earths 
suited to different plants. If these are ready, it is 
easy to repot a plant, or put a new one into congenial 
soil, thus promoting a healthy and vigorous growth. 
For general use a barrel may be filled in the fall with 
one-fourth manure, one-sixth sand, and the' remainder 
with good garden soil, well mixed. A little lime, well 
rotted tan, woods earth, or well rotted weeds, add to 
the excellence of the compost. 
We know a lady who did this every fall, using the 
earth in the spring. She had thrifty aud beautiful 
plants. 
When the manure is old more can be used, even 
half to Zonale Geraniums, Fuchsias, bulbs, etc. It is, 
when two or three years old, a good substitute for 
woods earth. It .should be well covered in order to 
retain its strength, as otherwise its best properties 
evaporate or are washed away. 
Where sea-sand can he had, it is much to he pre¬ 
ferred, as it does not sink in the pot as most coarse 
sands do. We should prefer flue coal ashes to the 
latter, aud it lias been used with success. Fine char¬ 
coal would he a good substitute also, as it purifies the 
earth, and makes excellent drainage. 
A compost heap of weeds, leaves, hones, manure, 
sweepings of the house, parings, etc., is very enrich¬ 
ing, if thoroughly decomposed, aud should he riddled 
before using. The earth for pot-plants is in better 
condition if well aired by sifting, than if put in in 
lumps. 
Boxes, or glazed pots, if filled with rich loose earth, 
are convenient for slips; hut if small pots are pre¬ 
ferred, they should he set in boxes filled with sand, 
sawdust, tan, or earth, so as to preserve a regular 
moisture about them ; for if the earth dries as the 
young roots are forming, it may kill them at once. 
In repotting, clean the pots well before using again, 
or if new, soak them well, or they will absorb all the 
moisture from the plant. 
In watering plants, great care should he taken not 
to over-water those which cannot evaporate freely 
through the leaves, some seeming to ueed more water¬ 
ing overhead than at the roots. Plants which endure 
a great deal of dryness at the root generally dwell in a 
moist atmosphere, or are subject to heavy dews. It 
is best to use warm water in winter, as it helps to 
keep warmth at the roots. Scalding hot water can 
he used on Callas with excellent effect; also on Cac¬ 
ti. Bulbs should have the earth heaped up around 
them, and he watered at the edge of the pot, wetting 
the bulbs as little as possible. They are subject to 
the attack of both small and large worms, which may 
he ejected by strong soap-suds, or lime-water. Cacti 
aud bulbs at rest need but little water during the win¬ 
ter, once a week being often enough to give it, unless 
the atmosphere is very dry. 
If heat is not easy to obtain, or is irregular, do not 
cultivate delicate plants, as one night’s frost might 
bring destruction to all. Cultivate hardier plants, 
such as Roses, Chinese Primroses, Ivies, Sparaxis, 
Zonale Geraniums, etc., which can bear a great de¬ 
gree of cold, and flourish best in a coolish atmosphere, 
Lilies of the Valley can he forced, also Deutzia, etc. 
If, however, you have sufficient heat and plenty of 
sunshine, still keep your delicate plants from drafts, 
open cracks, and open windows. On severe nights 
put newspaper curtains between them aud the glass, 
or cover them entirely, if necessary. 
Turn your plants frequently so as to promote sym¬ 
metrical growth. If the atmosphere is very dry, put 
boxes of wet sand about, or saucers of water. 
If you cannot command sunlight in your windows, 
try Ferns, ornamental-leafed Begonias, etc., or winter 
choice plants there. Water all plants overhead at 
least once a week. 
Plants must have a period of rest, or wholesome 
neglect, in order to bloom well; at night, too, the 
temperature should be lowered. The circulation is 
said to diminish then. Tropicals plants hear a much 
greater decrease of temperature at night than cultiva¬ 
tors are generally aware of, approaching nearly to 
frost at times. If, therefore, we know how to put 
them to rest properly, we may have better bloom. 
We knew a lady who completely neglected her Zonale 
Geraniums in summer, and they became dried up, for¬ 
lorn, and miserable-looking plants; hut a short time 
after they were brought into the house they commenced 
blooming, and were full of flowers when other plants 
were almost dormant. 
Try to have a succession of bloom by studying the 
time of rest for some, and bringing others forward. 
Much depends on arrangement to bring out the beauty 
of plants, such as placing vines where they will hang 
or cling in natural festoons, stately plants by them¬ 
selves, blooming ones amid greenery, etc. Use wall- 
pots, or hanging-boxes, for trailing plants. Hanging- 
baskets should he hooked into the loop of a cord or 
chain, at an easy distance for lifting down, as they 
need daily syringing or soaking. Baskets, too, can 
be used with pretty effect. Stands of Ferns are a 
beautiful addition, or even one well grown, such as 
the Lomaria gihha, a small tree Fern, which we have 
found will thrive well under sitting-room culture. It 
is from New Holland, and will hear a oool atmosphere 
quite well. We have seen Ferns kept healthy and 
thrifty during the winter, in a moderately heated sit¬ 
ting-room, and without the aid of glass or extra mois¬ 
ture. 
In closing we would say, he not discouraged at fail¬ 
ures; the best florists have these. We have known 
of one who cultivated some plants for years without 
any extraordinary success, hut one winter he happened 
on the very treatment which secured a brilliant show 
of flowers. Anna Griscom. 
The Aloe. —The Aloes form the strongest con¬ 
trast to the light grasses growing in proximity to 
them by their stately repose and the strength of their 
thick, fleshy, and inflexible leaves. They generally 
stand solitary iu the parched plains and impart a 
peculiarly melancholy character to the landscape. 
The real Aloes are chiefly African, hut the American 
Yuccas and Agaves have a similar physiognomical 
character. The Agave Americana, the usual orna¬ 
ment of our hot-houses, bears on a short and massive 
stem a tuft of fleshy leaves, sometimes not less than 
teu feet long, fifteen inches wide, and eight inches 
thick. After many years a flower-stalk, twenty feet 
high shoots forth in a few weeks from the heart of the 
plant, expanding like a rich Candelabrum, and clus¬ 
tered with hundreds of greenish yellow aromatic 
flowers. But a rapid decline follows this brilliant 
flowering aud the exhausted plant soon dies. 
The Agave is indegenious to Mexico, and from 
thence it has found its way to Spain and Italy, and it 
is considered one of the most valuable productions. 
M. J. Cummings. 
Window boxes of growing plants are particularly 
beautiful wheu Lygodium Scanden, in thick cordons, 
are festooned about the heavier plants. 
The white doves, so long popular, have been 
exactly imitated in pottery, and are now sold in floral 
shops. They have an aperture for growing plants, 
and can he filled with these or.eut flowers. 
