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NEW YORK, MAY, 1874. 
FERNERIES, HANGING-BASKETS AND 
WINDOW ORNAMENTS. 
Mr. Williams has given us a very charming hook 
on “Window Gardening,” which will he found very 
A-aluahle, even hy those unfortunate heings to whom 
plants and flowers are a necessity, but whose moderate 
means prevent the possession of many of the beautiful 
things therein described. That window-boxes, vases, 
and baskets can be made of very simple 
materials I know, for have I not made 
them myself? A semi-invalid, living in 
a country town which does 
not boast a solitary green¬ 
house, my cosy little house 
is always fragrant and 
bright with lovely flowers, 
trailing vines, and graceful 
ferns. The woods are my 
great treasure-house, and 
many dainty bits of sum¬ 
mer loveliness retain their 
brightness and develop 
new graces day by day. 
Vases and pots of ferns 
and mosses, on lichen-cov¬ 
ered brackets, keep fresh 
and green; and Squirrel- 
cups (Hepatica triloba) 
have been blooming in 
them for weeks, while the 
blue-green, tender leaves 
of the Columbine and tiny 
vines are starting through 
the moss. Ferneries made of willow baskets of pretty 
shape, lined with oiled silk, to keep in the moisture, 
are then filled with ferns, taken up with their own 
soil, and covered with bell-glasses of various shapes 
and sizes. I gathered fourteen varieties of ferns in one 
small piece of woods, with a ledge of limestone rock 
running through it, and all have done well under 
glass, throwing up their delicate fronds, and especially 
the lovely Maiden-hair. Mitchella vines grow in the 
moss, and the red berries are as bright as when I 
placed them there in September last. 
Ox-muzzles make very effective hanging-baskets, 
lined with moss. I have one that is as pretty as any 
of the pictures in Mr. Williams' book. It was filled 
two years ago with the large pink Oxalis and vines of 
Maurandia, and has only had fresh dirt on top. The 
Oxalis has grown through the moss on the bottom and 
sides, and the original basket is entirely covered with 
its tri-lobed leaves of light green, while the vines 
have covered the wires by which it is suspended. A 
rustic basket, with Irish Ivy twining through the 
brown roots, is also very beautiful; and a cocoanut- 
shell full of the exquisite little Linaria cymballaria 
(Kenilworth Ivy) is the prettiest trailing vine we 
have. 
A home-made vase is a charming ornament in our 
window. A small box for lower base, a smaller plank 
for second, an urn off the top of an old stove on that, 
support a round butter-bowl, all painted white and 
sanded with marble dust while wet. 
There is also a window-box fitted in an eastern 
window, supported on brackets of bronzed iron, the 
outside covered with lichens, put on with glue. A 
Dracaena keeps throwing up its crimson-striped leaves 
in the centre. Begonias, Heliotrope, Mrs. Pollock 
Geranium, Hyacinths, Crocuses, Oxalis, Nierem- 
bergia, and Ferns (exotic), to fill up with mossy green 
Lycopodium, creeping between them all. 
Near this, on a small round table, is my latest experi¬ 
ment in growing Hyacinths and Crocuses. Some of 
Bliss’s best bulbs were placed in a box of loose soil, 
covered with dried moss, and set in the cellar the first 
of November to root. Late in December I brought 
them out, placed them in a high glass dish, leaving 
the soil which clung to the roots, put bits of moss to 
fill all vacant space, with green moss in which small 
ferns were growing over the top. It is simply perfect, 
time—the result of pinching off the seed-pods of the 
first bloom. The Madeira, with its beautiful leaves, 
is now in full bloom, which is very neat, white and 
sweet-scented. The roots were started in April in the 
house. The Maurandia Barclayana is a beautiful 
climber, has a fine shaped leaf, a buff colored bloom, 
and an abundance of fruit, turning an orange yellow 
when ripe. As handsome as any to me are the Con¬ 
volvulus Major, with their friendly looking flowers of 
many different shades. Also, the Balloon vine is 
beautiful and interesting. The three last named vines 
are very easy of cultivation. The most delicate and 
lovely of all, the Smilax, is doing finely for me out 
doors, in a shaded situation. Seeds started in the 
house last of March; Rieinus over twelve feet in height 
first September. Miss J. A. M. 
Balcony Garden. 
no other bulbs, either in soil or water, doing as well 
as these. Large spikes, well thrown up, with bells 
as large as single Tuberoses, red and white, pink 
and purple, and delicate rose, with the lovely Crocus 
Cups and all their delicate colors between. 
Pansie, in The Independent. 
Cypress.— The Cypress is a very desirable vine; 
mine is full of buds and ready to bloom the second 
PUBLISHER’S ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
Contributions. —Short notes, hints on flowers, or household 
topics, are always welcome. Thanks for past favors from corres¬ 
pondents. We hope to have more, in time to come. Be short. We 
cannot use any article over three to five note pages long. 
Questions.— These are answered in order ns received; often we 
have several hundred. Nevertheless, don’t stop. We are always glad 
to have them come. Gossip brightens the pleasure of editorial life. 
Correction. —An advertisement in April number, of Samuel 
Grieves, Paterson, N. J., should have read, "Price lints free on ap¬ 
plication." Some very desirable novelties are offered by him. 
Good Night and Good Morning.— The first edition of 
these chromos was exhausted early in February. The second edition 
was not mounted and ready till April 1. When received, all orders 
were filled at once. This explanation will satisfy all who, in their 
impatience, could not understand why they did not come at the same 
time as the “Gem.” We now have abundance on hand, and can 
supply without delay. 
Missing Copies.—We will always cheerfully supply any 
missing copy, which a subscriber has paid for and is entitled to. 
Early Mailing.— Having now completed posting and examining 
our books, and made our mailing list accurate, the Cabinet will bo 
hereafter mailed before the first of each month, in time to reach 
every subscriber the first week, and often the first day of the month. 
Answers to Letters— Every letter directed to us receives 
careful attention, and is never put away unlooked at. Sometimes 
we cannot answer it immediately, because of search 
and examination which often takes much time 
From December] 5 to March 15, an overwhelming 
amount of correspondence was 
poured upon us, as largo as for 
a whole year previous, and every 
one was exhausted with the cease¬ 
less work. Nevertheless, hy this 
time, every letter has been at¬ 
tended to, examined, compared; 
missing papers, chromos, and 
books sent off. Patrons must 
have some charity. 
Missing Money.—An un¬ 
usual amount of letters with 
money orders was lost the past 
winter. When complaints come, 
we have to wait till our books are 
fully posted to see if money was 
received. If not, then the letter 
must he sent to the post-office de¬ 
partment for their search and ex¬ 
amination. The duplicate money 
order must be obtained, and until 
then we could not send any paper. 
But, hereafter, to any subscriber 
who sends a post-office money 
order, we will send missing copies 
at once, and wait for the post- 
office department to issue a du¬ 
plicate. 
Chromo “Gem”— A small *bmidlc of two hundred wrappers 
for February Cabinet and Gem was misplaced by our janitor when 
fixing the office, and was not discovered till third week of March. 
This will explain cause of non-receipt, by some, of their paper and 
chromo before. Delay is to be regretted, and will not occur again. 
T^ew Offices.—Headers will bear in mind this issue finds us in 
new offices. 46 Beekman street, near William street. Wo occupy two 
entire floors, handsomely fitted up, and visitors will find it a very 
cheerful place for business, With abundance of room, and more con¬ 
veniences, our large and prosperous business can bo despatched 
more promptly than ever. 
