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WINTER FLOWERS. 
We all know that southern or southeastern win¬ 
dows are best for plants, and if one rejoices dn a hay- 
window with this sunny aspect, “ all other things 
being- equal,” we may reasonably expect plenty of 
bloom and lovely foliage. I am an ardent lover of 
foliage plants, though not to the exclusion of those 
cultivated for their blossoms. Many devote space to 
plants that will not pay for the time and trouble ex¬ 
pended upon them merely because they do not know 
the best varieties for window-culture in winter. I 
have been also much surprised to read in The Cabi¬ 
net of the non-success of some of its readers in the. 
winter cultivation of Geraniums and Pelargoniums, 
some saying they had no blossoms upon either until 
spring. As a general thing, young Geranium plants 
rooted in August or September will blossom freely 
all winter - but I find some varieties much more free 
than others, and would recommend for winter use the 
following: Cheerful, bright cherry color; Master 
Christine, dwarf, beautiful pink ; Tom Thumb, scar¬ 
let, dwarf; White Tom Thumb, pure white; Mrs. 
James Vick, white, with pinkish centre; and Jean 
Sisley, scarlet, white eye. All these are single. 
The double variety, Asa Grey, of a lovely salmon 
color, has proved an almost constant bloomer. Tin- 
above selection furnishes a variety of colors and 
continual bloom. Do not fail to have a few of the 
tricolor, gold, and silver varieties, for their showy 
foliage; for instance, a Marshal MacMahon, Mount of 
Snow, and Lady Cullum ; or Mrs. Pollock, Beauty 
of Calderdale, and Beaton’s Silver Nosegay. The 
new- “ Happy Thought” is very desirable and quite 
distinct in its markings, having a yellow blotch in the 
centre of the leaf and green margin. Pelargoniums 
are general favorites, but most persons think them 
too difficult for common cultivation. This is a mis¬ 
take; it lies in “ knowing how.” Start cuttings in 
June or by the middle of July, in small pots. It is 
best to root them under cover, as heavy rains injure 
them. Pinch off the ends of the branches frequently, 
to make them bushy, and by fall repot in four or live 
inch pots. Before placing in the windows give them 
a thorough smoking, and in tw-o days afterwards re¬ 
peat it. This keeps my Pelargoniums perfectly free 
from the aphis. In November and December give 
little water, gradually increasing in January. Keep 
them in cool, sunny window's, out of danger of frost. 
A room but slightly heated suffices. They will grow 
stout and strong, and when buds appear should be 
brought to a warm room and stimulated once a week 
with liquid manure. Old plants blossom earlier than 
young ones, and it is well to have two sets of plants 
—an old one of each kind to bloom early and young 
plants to come on later. Cut old ones down in July, 
but do not repot till August, and again in the au¬ 
tumn. They will blossom by February (I have had 
some bloom in January), and throughout March, 
April, and May your plants will delight all beholders 
with their wonderful beauty. In my experience the 
best varieties are Pet of Cambridge, rose and white; 
Mazeppa, maroon and white; Madame Dolby, car¬ 
mine-crimson, with w hite Centre; La Vesuve, rich 
shaded, velvety scarlet, very large; Bride, white; 
Empress, white, with maroon spot in each petal; 
Fire-King, orange-scarlet, spotted with black; and 
Competitor, pink, scarlet,•and black. Their foliage 
should be washed frequently; when in bloom great 
care should be taken that the blossoms do not get 
wet, as it injures them, greatly. Pelargoniums are 
great favorites with me, and I wish their cultivation 
were more common. 
A few plants of the Coleus, such as The Shah, 
Setting Sun, Chameleon, and the well-known 
Verschaffeltii, add much to a collection. I find 
the Chameleon needs to be “starved” in order to 
make its foliage beautiful. Indeed, its rich velvet 
leaves, spotted with rose, purple, yellow-, and green, 
are far handsomer than some blossoms. Give it soil 
composed of two-thirds loam and one-third sand; 
never use manure in the soil or use stimulants if you 
wish it to retain its beauty. A few plants of Achy- 
rauthes are quite desirable, especially Aurea Reticu¬ 
lata, leaves bright green, marked with a network of 
bright yellow, and sometimes blotched with carmine; 
also Gilsonii, leaves carmine, stems rich pink. To min¬ 
gle with these, get a plant or two of Centaurea, w-ith 
their silvery-white leaves; Candida and Clementeii 
are considered best. By all means procure a Dra¬ 
caena, with its lovely crimson ribbon-like leaves, and 
a plant of Farfugium Grande attracts attention, 
with its shining green leaves spotted yellow. All the 
above foliage plants are of easy growth, the Coleus 
being most tender and requiring most heat. Use 
soil as for other plants, and repot w hen you see the 
little rootlets creeping through the aperture in the 
bottom of the pot, for that indicates a need of more 
sustenance. A few greenhouse Ferns will add grace 
to your w indow, and will grow- in the shade, behind 
the blooming plants, requiring plenty of moisture 
and partial shade. Both the large and small silver- 
leaved do well; also the delicate Maiden-hair and the 
Lygodium Scandeus, or Japanese Climbing Fern. , I 
am delighted with the latter. It will droop as w-ell 
as climb, and its delicate, graceful vine looks charm¬ 
ingly creeping on a tiny cord about my window. 
Every one loves the Rose, the “ Queen of Flowers,” 
while few have, success in their cultivation in warm 
sitting-rooms; but the cool room above mentioned 
for Pelargoniums will just suit them. Such an one 
can be easily obtained by having a register either in 
the sitting or dining room, communicating w-ith the 
chamber above; and should'.,the latter possess sunny 
south or east windows they will be well suited to 
many greenhouse plants. Roses need stiff, rich soil, 
and considerable water while in rapid growth. Some 
of the best winter varieties are Agrippina, bright 
crimson; Hennosa, pink; Safrano, yellow; and the 
new W'hite Tea-Rose, Cornelia Cook. This reminds 
ine that I never yet saw a window- containing too 
many white flowers, and each year I try to increase 
my collection. The fine tassel-like flowers of the 
Stevia and Eupatorium ; the sweet-scented white 
Polyanthus Narcissus; whiteIxias, with their delicate 
blossoms; the new Abutilon, Boule de Niege; white 
Primulas, double and single; the winter-blooming 
white-fringed Chrysanthemum, Laciniata, are all 
fine for the window in winter. These, together with 
the White Tea-Rose, w-hite Geraniums, and Pelar¬ 
goniums (mentioned previously), and an Azalea and 
Camellia, will furnish a fine variety of white flowers. 
All the readers of The Cabinet have been told 
of the liot-water treatment for the Calla, and its need 
of weekly stimulants. 1 consider the dwarf Calla 
best for house-culture, as the plants do not grow as 
large, consequently are easier to handle, and, the 
blossoms being smaller, are more useful as cut flow¬ 
ers. I know a lady who has two Callas grown from 
seeds. They were good-sized plants, one year old, 
when I saw them, and looked as if they might bloom 
the next winter. Besides the enjoyment derived 
from the cultivation of house-plants, there is much 
pleasure in being able to gather flowers for the par¬ 
lor vases, for button-hole bouquets, and, last but not 
least, in having an occasional box of blossoms to 
send to a friend. We need a few fragrant flowers, 
such as Mignonette, Heliotrope, Daphne, Mahernia 
odorata, and plenty of sweet-scented Geranium- 
leaves, but space forbids the enumeration. I have 
not dwelt upon the necessity of even temperature, 
weekly washing, giving fresh air, etc., as it is already 
a “ twice-told tale”; neither have I given a full list 
of the many plants that may be used in the window- 
garden, to say nothing of vines and basket-plants; 
but it one-half I have mentioned be successfully cul¬ 
tivated one need never be without “ Winter Flow¬ 
ers.” II. J. M. G. 
FLORENCE’S SNOW-TREE. 
The description of a snow-tree in last December’s 
number of The Cabinet came just in time to add 
one to the list of Christmas gifts. 
I had wanted something for a gift to a very dear 
invalid friend, and that was just the thing. There 
were plenty of fairy-baskets in town, but not a soli¬ 
tary snow-tree, and, better still, I had never seen one 
in any of my travels. 
Of course I did not make it exactly like the one de¬ 
scribed, for with my inordinate love for experiments 
it would be almost impossible. 
I reduced it somewhat in size, shortening the tassels 
to correspond. I used quite small skirt-wire, so that 
the branches would bend easily in any direction I 
chose to have them. I covered the trunk and base of 
the tree with clean white cloth. 
I used linen instead of cotton for ravelling. I think 
it much prettier. There is a delicate sheeny look to 
linen that is wanting in cotton. A partly-worn linen 
! sheet is best, and will be sufficient for two trees. I 
| gave it a good bleaching, and ravelled it crossways 
of tlie breadth. I twisted it' before winding, and 
twisted it for the tassels. I wound the branches 
thick but loose. I sewed the tassels on the end of 
every branch, all along the branches, and wherever 
else they were needed, until the tree was as perfect 
in shape as a tree ought to be, and the foliage neither 
too dense nor scanty. 
After winding the base I fastened tassels all around 
the foot of the tree, cutting them just long enough to 
reach the lower edge of base. 
To a critical eye it needed a great many finishing- 
touches, but at last it was pronounced complete, and 
I drew a long breath of admiration. It certainly was 
beautiful, and my invalid friend went into such an 
ecstasy of delight over it that 1 Felt more than amply 
repaid, and I send my sincere thanks to “Florence” 
for her kindly offering. Seaweed. 
