Hikes' SPlorat BaEinet an.3 Pictorial Howie ftoeijiairiioii. 
Perhaps my experience in gardening may be a 
little help to some of the sisterhood of the Floral 
Cabinet. Having little of either money or time, but, 
being very fond of flowers, I tried my best to make a 
pretty garden even in a smoky city, having quite a 
large lot beside the house. 
That you may understand me more readily, I will 
give the shape, with my plans, my successes, and, I 
am sorry to say. 
numerous failures. The 
space is 
about twenty two feet wide by forty long, that I used 
as our flower garden, fronting northeast with a picket 
fence, an ugly black frame house and high board 
fence on one side. The place was sodded some time 
ago, but last year was used as a croquet ground, and 
the grass nearly all worn off. I marked off a long 
narrow bed about two feet wide, the whole length on 
each side, two oval beds running across, a large dia¬ 
mond, with four three-cornered beds to fill out the 
square, and two more ovals. I had them dug up, and 
left the sod between for the paths, which I made at 
least three feet wide. Along the ugly fence I planted 
the dainty, graceful Balloon vine, and the whole sum¬ 
mer it was a mass of bright green, with its dainty 
sprays and airy balloons ; it is beautiful as a single 
plant, or grown thickly. Along the house I put a row 
of Morning Glories, the common pink, white, and blue, 
and the large, blue velvet ones with white margin and 
crimson throat; in front of them a row of Four 
O’clocks, the old-fashioned name “ Pretty-by-night,” 
will remind you at once that here were ornaments pro¬ 
vided for both morning and evening. The narrow bed 
on the other side was devoted to Portulacca, of which 
I had a nice collection of seeds, all single, but so 
many colors or shades, making a brilliant show in 
the bright sunshine. One end of the bed was so much 
shaded they did not bloom well. 
In the oval bed nearest the front fence, there was 
a stone, too large to remove, which suggested the 
idea of a few more to make a very modest rockery. 
From a building opposite I got some pieces of stone 
which I put together as carelessly as possible to have 
them keep together, and planted in the crevices some 
Ground Ivy and Moneywort, and a few little Ferns, 
and between some stones, where it was much shaded, 
a little plant of Trailing Arbutus, but city air pro¬ 
bably did not suit it, for it died. This was one end 
of the bed; at the other I piled the stones rather 
higher, around a white lead keg, in which I have had 
an English Ivy for two years; it grew very nice.y and 
the stones were soon covered with its Yankee cousin, 
Ground Ivy, and a Balloon vine in the middle of the 
bed ; put a few Cypress vine seed, which grew around 
a stick, to give some color to my bed. 
In the next bed I had a row of Sweet Peas, (such 
beautiful flowers, I think), in the centre; made some 
little frames to support them; they bloomed very 
well; I had a Wall-flower at one end ; it looked very 
green and flourishing all summer, but had very few 
flowers; also a Lemon Verbena, quite a large one, is 
three or four years old. 
In my diamond bed was, for a centre-piece, a box 
partly filled with earth (a soap-box, I believe), with a 
Madeira Vine Tuber in each end; on this box, a 
square about eighteen inches, on each corner a tin 
fruit, can, put on with nails; in two of them had 
Moneywort, and in the other two Lobelia, the best 
blooming plant I ever saw. The box was filled with 
earth, and had on top an old china pitcher that had 
lost a handle, with a basket plant in it. Do not laugh 
at my centre-piece; for I can assure you it was very 
pretty when my vines got well started. Had one on 
each side on the ground, and some Ground Ivy in the 
boxes to help cover the sides. Planted Madeira Vine, 
for bordering the bed. but had not time to train it, or 
it would be very pretty, it grows so fast and embraces 
everything; put a large Rose Geranium in one point, 
a Red Rose, monthly, in another, and a Hennosa in a 
third, a Salvia making the other corner. The corner 
beds were filled, one with Petunia, which was pretty 
the whole summer, and kept green until late in No¬ 
vember; Mignonette in another, which did not give 
me one blossom; Zinnias, which were gay all sum¬ 
mer; and Asters in the fourth ; some of them bloomed 
very well, and others the grasshoppers spoiled every 
blossom. Do not know why they singled out some 
plants, but it was so. 
My next oval bed had a row of Gladioli in the 
middle, but they did not bloom at all; had a Bleeding 
Heart at one end, and Sweet William at the other; in 
my last bed filled the centre with sweet peas. During 
the spring and early summer got plants in market 
every few days, and planted wherever there was room. 
Had two plants of Joseph’s Coat, which were very 
pretty, but no seed ripened; had, also, a dark, ugly- 
looking plant, which before the summer was over 
became the ornament of the garden—having the whole 
top carmine, it was very much admired. Had a few 
Pinks, some beautiful Pansies, two Chrysanthemums, 
two Fish Geraniums, which didn’t bloom ; some very 
beautiful Balsams, red, speckled, pink, and one in 
particular, the faintest shade of pink and very double, 
but did not have one seed on it. Some Verbenas that 
bloomed moderately. 
The ground is poor and stony, and the spring was 
late and cold; but, with all our drawbacks, we always 
had flowers in the house and some for our friends. 
Am afraid that I am transgressing the limit allowed 
me, so will not write any more. Will be very glad if 
I can give any pleasure or help to any one in their 
pursuit of a flower garden. Mrs. E. H. E. 
PLANTS BY MAIL — HOW TO TAKE 
CARE OF THEM. 
The safe transportation of rare plants is a subject of 
interest to both florist and amateur. I hanks to the 
floral establishments for the many ingenious modes of 
packing plants for the perilous journey, thereby mani¬ 
festing an interest in the safe arrival of plants at their 
final destination. 
Thanks for the facilities of the transportation of 
plants afforded by the United States Mail. For a few 
cents the choicest exotic—bulb, evergreen, shrub, 
plant, and seeds may be transported in safety through 
the United States Mail to ornate the homes of the 
million. 
The distribution of plants, seeds, bulbs, etc., by 
dealers through the mail, has diffused a zeal in the 
cultivation of plants, by amateurs, hitherto unknown. 
The home is rendered more Eden-like by the introduc¬ 
tion of rare and beautiful plants. 
Thanks for th*. Floral Cabinet to teach us how 
we may cultivate and adorn our homes with flowers, 
and where we may interchange our ideas of culture. 
Isolated from society on the edge of the green wood, 
with the wide prairie before us, we think the Cabinet 
a welcome visitor each month; and think there are 
many more like circumstanced and like interested. 
When received, it is never laid aside until the last 
line is perused. 
First—Plants should be obtaiued as near home as 
possible. Seeds and bulbs are able to travel long 
distances; also deciduous trees and shrubs, if trans¬ 
planted during their term of rest, can make long jour¬ 
neys in safety, with very little moisture, bound up in 
packages of moss excluded from the air. Avoid wash¬ 
ing the roots as this is very injurious. A better plan 
is, to take some good soil in a bucket, add water, and 
stir until the consistency of batter, dip the roots in the 
mortar, and then wrap them securely in a sufficiency 
of dry moss to retain the moisture; around the moss 
use parchment paper, oiled paper, or any material 
that is both air and water proof. The plants thus 
prepared may be carefully packed, with several com¬ 
panions for the journey, in a strong box—aye, it needs 
a strong box, or else no box at all. A package with 
a sufficiency of wrapping is better than a paper box. 
Many a choice plant has come to grief by being care¬ 
fully laid in such a nice, frail paper box to go a long 
journey in the United States Mail. 
Who knows, or who cares for what is contained in 
those huge canvas bags! A tender message for the 
absent. News of those gone on before to the other 
side the river. The coveted plant on its perilous voy¬ 
age, it is all one. Hurry with the mail; pell-mell the 
mail bags are thrown into the car and off with express 
speed to the distant station. 
But, to return to the plants—succulent plants do 
not stand long journeys; particularly if the tempera¬ 
ture is above what is known as growing temperature. 
They become water clogged; and, although the leaves 
may look fresh when received, in a few hours they will 
all drop off; mildew sets in, and the vital spark of 
plant life is too feeble to recover, or may perhaps 
linger, an invalid plant, for a little while. 
Evergreens should be carefully handled—under no 
consideration allowed to droop. Exposure of the 
roots to the air, or, when transplanted, to suffer sun¬ 
shine to wither the foliage, is very fatal. But limited 
space forbids my saying much more. 
After an experience of many years in receiving 
plants from both florists and amateurs, transported 
through the mail, we consider the safest plan, and 
most satisfactory, to allow as short a time as possible 
to elapse between the time the plant is taken up and 
transplanted. 
If the few facts mentioned is of any service in as¬ 
sisting the lovers of Flora to send a friend a plant, my 
end is accomplished Loose packing, and in frail 
boxes, liable to be smashed up, will surely bring dis¬ 
appointment. Oil paper or silk should always be 
placed arouud the plant, or the wrapping will absorb 
all the moisture. We have received packages done 
up in moss and newspaper, as destitute of moisture 
as the linen on the white wire line under a tropical 
sun. 
Says one, “ Drown them in the tepid bath.” 
Says another, “ Bury them in damp soil.” We did 
both. Poor plants! they were gone before they 
came. But enough to be thankful for bloom all the 
year round, souvenirs from the old home, contributions 
of friends. 
The last novelty in the way of Aline Sisley—Steph- 
anotis Florabunda, from England. A splendid 
Hybisous seed from China. Roses, Roses, and a score 
of others, from professional culturists, have come along 
with the United States Mail, and are dwellers in 
my garden. Flora Z. 
