NEW YORK, MARCH, 1879. 
FLORAL GOSSIP. 
We have an alcove opening from our parlor, which 
is anything hut lovely, until ornamented. It is about 
six feet square and the full height of the room, being 
of good height. It is not in a sunny position, so I 
could not hope to keep plants blooming within it. 
In the first place, I placed two ornamental brackets 
half way up the wall and put flower-pots on them, 
having Maurandia vine around the edge to droop 
over, and Parlor Ivy in the centre of each not, the 
latter being trained to form an archway over the 
opening into our alcove. From the centre of this 
archway was suspended a hanging basket, with a 
profusion of Kenilworth Ivy drooping around it. 
This forms a sort of frame for the picture which is 
back of it. In each corner, at the back of the alcove, 
is a bracket holding an ornamental box containing 
German Ivy, which is gracefully festooned around 
the sides, and enwreathes a cross in one corner and 
an anchor in the other, which are suspended above 
the boxes containing the plants. This cross and 
anchor are cut from strong pasteboard, and are then 
covered with green Silk Moss and French moss, and 
Everlasting flowers, so there is no fear of their colors 
fading. These bright-hued Everlastings give a cheerful 
color to my otherwise too sombre nook. I choose the 
small Immortelles and flowers of that description in¬ 
stead of coarser and more gaudy ones. The cross 
and anchor are each about eighteen inches high. 
Then I had a strong wire frame made about four 
feet high, which is set in the centre of the alcove at 
the back. This has branches from the main stan¬ 
dard. The upper branches are the shortest, and 
end with a receptacle, in which is set a pair of tall 
crystal vases, filled with sprays of French moss, and 
tiny Everlasting flowers. The wire frame is covered 
l ftafiiriei J^ietormt 3HEome 
ora 
with Silk moss, which is tied in place, the rows of 
moss overlapping the preceding fastening. The 
next branches are below these, and two tiny hanging- 
baskets are suspended by gilt chains from them. 
These are filled with the finest drooping moss that I 
could find at the florist’s. The next branches, and 
the lowest, support two large pink-lined conch shells, 
filled with the daintiest sea mosses that can be 
found. Against the centre of this ornament leans a 
harp, made of Moss and Immortelles. The strings 
are of silver guitar strings. 
All of these ornaments are movable and can be 
changed about at will, so that an entirely different 
! effect can be produced by placing them in different 
positions. 
There are two other places for vases in the front of 
the main ornament. These also are filled with Ever¬ 
lastings and Moss, with which some of the smoke 
i from the Smoke Plant is mingled. Two large winter 
| bouquets are placed in Parian vases, on either side 
of this ornament. These are made up of dried 
grasses, Smoke Plant, Everlastings, Moss and glass 
cherries, plums, grapes and currants. The grasses 
are the beautiful ornamental grasses with which we 
are all familiar. MinglingMosses with the Everlast¬ 
ings helps to remove the stiffness which is their 
greatest defect. The graceful sprays of Moss twine 
about them, and soften and hide their severe up¬ 
rightness. This same ornament can be used for a 
dining table ornament, in case of a large party. For 
such a place the Everlasting flowers could all be re¬ 
moved and the crystal vases filled with cut flowers, 
the hanging baskets taken from the chains, and 
double cut glass bouquet holders substituted, filled 
with fresh bouquets, and the lower branches have 
flat dishes, in which are arranged cut flowers suita¬ 
ble for the purpose, instead of the shells and sea 
grass, and moss. To give it a graceful and effective 
appearance there should be a mat of green for it to rest 
upon, on the table. This would be nice with the edges 
formed in geometrical figures, of shallow dishes made 
on purpose for such uses, and filled with fine flowers. 
In another and sunnier part of our family parlor 
stands an urn five feet across. This was purchased 
and planted for the lawn last spring, and was an 
attractive ornament to it through the summer and 
autumn, until the approach of cold weather, when 
we had it moved to the house. This could be accom¬ 
plished, as there were double doors leading to the parlor. 
In this urn there is a thrifty Rose Geranium, 
which yields its well-known delightful fragrance at 
the slightest touch. A Balm Geranium contests its 
laurels closely. There is a Grape Geranium three 
feet high, and crowned with the brightest liued, deli¬ 
cately formed flowers that can be imagined. Two 
Calla Lilies are almost ready to unfold their creamy 
spathes. Two or three Lantanas are loaded with 
flowers. 
Three varieties of Roses are bearing lovely flowers 
and more exquisite buds. Several Primroses near 
the outer edge are loaded with bright blossoms. A 
Smilax runs hither and thither, calling upon its more 
upright brothers and sisters for support. Drooping 
over the outer edge of the urn, there is Kenilworth 
Ivy, Maurandia vine, Oxalis, two varieties of Lycopo¬ 
dium, and double Lobelia with its dainty blue flowers. 
iOHlJlCLIiion, 
SPLENDID BOOKS GIVEN AWAY, 
WITH 
Flower Seeds, Plants, etc. 
To any of our subscribers desiring to club together 
for desirable Seeds, Plants, and any of our Books wo 
will make the following 
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in addition free choice of one Premium—No. 
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This order includes only Flower Seeds, Vegetable 
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List of YPremmms. 
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House Plants. Price 30 ctr. 
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4. Book.- —Ladies’ Guide to Needlework. 
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dener. 
6. Six months’ subscription “ Ladies’ Floral Cabinet.” 
7. Any book, price $1, in my Catalogue. 
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Household Elegancies. 
Window Gardening. 
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Evening Amusements. 
These are splendid offers. All who desire good 
books improve them. Address 
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46 Reekmmi Street, New York. 
The Ladies’ Floral Cabinet 
AND 
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The Handsomest Illustrated Journal of Household 
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SUBSCRIPTION TERMS, 1879. 
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