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A FEAST OF ROSES. 
California is setting an example to tlie Eastern 
States in its rapid progress in Floriculture. The 
luxuriant growth of plants in that part of the State 
in which Santa Barbara is situated is enough to 
awahen enthusiasm in the most indifferent, and to 
the lovers of flowers such a garden of nature must be 
an inspiration, 
A letter from Santa Barbara describes a Bose 
Festival, held there at the studio of an artist. 
Every one was invited to bring their pets, and dis¬ 
play their beauty to the best advantage. So many 
responded to the call that a complete procession was 
formed of persons laden with roses, reaching nearly 
two miles. The object was to collect together all 
the named varieties, and to identify and verify their 
nomenclature. The writer describing the scene 
says: “The work of assorting and decorating went 
bravely on—Ferns, hanging-baskets, Palms, and 
Callus, to which the most aspiring individuals must 
look up, graced the walls, centre-pieces, and mantles, 
contrasting rarely with the fine collection in con- 
chology and scenes from many lands portrayed by 
the brush of our gifted host, Mr. Ford. Presently 
out of apparently hopeless chaos came order, and 
beauty, and infinite loveliness : Roses dyed in car¬ 
mine and old-gold and tints of the sea-shell; Roses 
with great creamy hearts and royal in hues of the 
sunset; a world of buds and blooms, and swinging 
censers of perfume. All else gave way to the Queen 
of Flowers; apologetically crept in a few rare things, 
some of the newer sorts of Amaryllis, Arumlo donax, 
Ozothamnus, Diosmifolia, Bougainvillia, Pawlonia 
Iinperialis—that fine addition to our flowering trees. 
A new evergreen to us was the Fruella, from the 
grounds of Mr. Sexton, a stray seedling, whose 
graceful thread-like sprays aroused the desire of 
every beholder to know the whereabouts of a nursery 
of this beautiful addition to our evergreen collections 
Durantia variegata, as a foliage plant, found many 
admirers, though it required singularly fine floral 
specimens to attract any attention, the avowed pur¬ 
pose of the exhibition being Roses. Visitors were 
seen, after their first exclamations of delight, passing 
around from table to table, note-book in hand, add¬ 
ing notes for more intelligent guidance in their 
future rose culture, and settling questions of identity 
as to names wi.th the deepest apparent interest. An 
informal committee of rose culturists gave their 
time on Saturday to the examination of each named 
collection as to numbers, and the correction of 
wro.igly-labelled varieties. Many interrogation points 
are found in questionable cases, as labels are notori¬ 
ously evanescent property. Some questions were 
left over until next year. A first-class Rose, of the 
color of Gloire de Dijon, habit of Reine du Portugal, 
with a distinct thread-like margin of maroon, was 
one so adjourned. Two samples came from different 
gardens, one labelled “ Adelaide Ristori,” which is 
evidently a mistake, as that variety is not so de¬ 
scribed. If any of your readers can give the true 
name it will be a favor. The nearest to the descrip¬ 
tion is “Eugenia,” which I have not seen. The six 
Roses which attracted the most attention were: 
“ Marie van Iioutte,” yellow with a tinge of rose 
deepening with age, indescribably beautiful; “ Ne- 
phitos,” pure white, whose long pointed buds brought 
the note-books into play at once ; a full-blown one 
measured eighteen inches around; “ Perle de Jar- 
din,” in golden beauty, was scarcely less attractive; 
while a new sensation was found in the color of “ La 
Nankin,” a true novelty and a decided improvement 
on “ La Jonquil,” unique though somewhat the same 
color, but not nearly so double. “ Mme. Pernet,” in 
a deep, pink cup form, is a decided advance on the 
deep pink Roses, while a centre-piece on Dr. Diin- 
mick’s table of the Archduke Charles—or more fully 
named “Mutabuis”—attracted much attention, run¬ 
ning over the gamut of color, as it does, from palest 
pink to dark crimson. Between these six ranged 
more than two hundred others. One collection ex¬ 
hibited one hundred and eight varieties, with one 
hundred more to hear from. The committee decided 
that it was safe to call our collection in cultivation 
here something over three hundred, mostly Teas, 
Chinas, Noisettes, and Burbons, with a few Hybrid 
Perpetuals. Of these, Paul Neron in pink, Charles 
Lefevre in crimson, Reine Netting in deep velvet 
maroon, and Vulcan in blackish purple, gave most 
satisfaction. 
LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN. 
HOME OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. 
I have just laid aside the Cabinet, which I had 
been perusing with the greatest delight, because I 
was seized with a desire to contribute a mite to the 
! general store of information which has proved so 
beneficial to myself. I am sure that I should never 
have attempted such a thing had it not been that my 
subject admits so much being said upon it; and had 
j I not thought that what I wished to say had not been 
said. 
I am not a little surprised to find that gentlemen 
exhibit so little interest in this matter as that they 
offer no suggestions as to how their portion of making 
I home a paradise can be accomplished ; although I 
| realize that generally they are only too willing to 
cast this additional care upon willing^ but I must 
say incompetent, hands. 
As I laid aside my magazine my glance fell through 
j my sitting-room window upon a rustic seat which I 
! constructed last summer, literally out of nothing. 
And as it is admired by many I will tell you how I 
managed it. Description will enable any man who 
is clever with a saw and hammer to construct a 
similar one in a short time. First, I found a broad, 
; stout board, fourteen inches wide, two thick, and 
| nine feet long. Then going into a grove I procured 
j several burr-oak poles about two and a half inches in 
diameter. These were for legs, back, arms, etc.; and 
I took burr-oak because of its rough bark. Next I 
made a common bench out of my material and placed 
it under a fine young oak where it is always shady, 
and just where a gravel serpentine path makes a 
curve. Taking four pieces of my poles, each four feet 
long, I drove them into the ground, two at each end, 
so that they crossed in the middle of the board, the 
slender pieces being outside and inclining backward. 
Then I took a pole nine and a half feet in length and 
nailed it firmly to the tree, and at each end to the 
slender stakes at the ends near the top. Next I 
crossed two similar pieces at the tree, nailing each end 
firmly, one at the top, and one at the bottom, thus 
forming an X in the back, and my frame is complete, 
strong, and durable Lastly, I took a long wild- 
grape-vine and, setting the larger end in the ground 
at one end of the seat as though growing, bent it 
gracefully over the end, forming an arm-rest; across 
the back according to fancy, over the other end to 
the ground again, and my seat was finished. All made 
without money, with but little trouble, yet being 
neat, tasty, and, above all, delightfully comfortable. 
I have constructed nearly a dozen such “ rests,” 
placing them near objects of interest or in some 
shady nook where they invite one to a moment’s quiet 
repose. 
You cannot conjecture the charm which these sim¬ 
ple affairs lend to my “ country yard ’ and the air of 
cheerfulness, and I might almost say luxury, they con¬ 
vey to the surroundings. 
I hope that this sketch may prove of some benefit 
to some one who, like myself, is anxious to become 
an exemplary “ John.” R. Howard. 
GERANIUMS. 
So many people in looking at my Geraniums ask: 
“ How is it that you have so many trusses and such 
large flowers in a truss ?” In purchasing a new 
Geranium, I always examine the flowers closely. In 
order to give you perfect satisfaction, it should have 
a large bunch, all the flowers opening nearly at the 
same time, and each separate flower large. Don’t take 
it for granted, as a good many of my neighbors do, 
that so long as you see the color of the flowers, thebun- 
ches will be pretty much of a size. Best assured that in 
the greenhouse the flowers are more or less forced, 
and that they will not do quite as well for you. So 
buy the best. 
And here is a peculiar vine, very nice for hanging 
baskets. It is called here a strawberry vine, al¬ 
though T do not think that is its proper name. It 
grows like the garden strawberry, several yards in 
length, and at each joint throws out a white blossom 
which turns to a large red berry. 
Emma A. Refsnvder. 
SMILAX. 
MYSmilaxisin a five-inch pot and is throwing up 
one tendril after another, some of them between three 
and four yards in length, twining around the top of 
the window and over to the hanging-basket handle. 
Last year it was full of flowers, which were much 
more fragrant than the Mignonette. Each of these 
flowers turned to a bright red berry. We set it 
away iivtlie garden, where the berries dropped after 
they were ripe, and the wind strewed the seed all 
over the garden. In the fall we saw large quantities 
of small stalks coming up, which we distributed to 
our friends. 
Emma A. Refsnyder. 
