fie ^aSies’ Stored ftufiiiiet cuu! Pictorial Home iBampaiuom 
133 
itjtmra^tbJ dullards* 
DESIGN FOE. COTTAGE. 
The illustration of cottage, which we present this 
month, is taken from a design by C. Arthur Totten, 
architect of this city, and is intended for a small 
cottage or suburban residence. The exterior appear¬ 
ance of the house is decidedly tasty, while the interior 
arrangement is exceedingly convenient and sensible. 
A wide hall runs through the house, having a door in 
the rear, the main entrance being from a veranda. To 
the right are the dining room, 12 by 12 feet; and 
kitchen connecting, 12 by 11 feet. To the left is the 
parlor, 12 by 12 feet, with a large closet behind. The 
china closet is in the hall under the stairs. On the 
second floor are three bed rooms, of same size as the 
rooms beneath; and in the front part of the hall is a 
large closet for linen. The roof should be of slate, in 
fancy patterns, and the siding laid in perpendicular 
lines for the upper part of the gables, the ends being 
cut in an 
ornamental 
pattern. The 
gables over 
the dining 
room and 
kitchen are 
filled in with 
a timber arch 
and brackets, 
the edges 
ch amfered, 
the framing 
below show¬ 
ing half tim¬ 
bered. - The 
gable over 
the parlor is 
obtuse, with 
ornamental 
brackets and 
panels, as be¬ 
fore. The 
gables have 
finials, and 
dining room 
window, a 
projecting 
hood, with 
supporting brackets. The chimneys are carried up 
with projections in pressed brick. The effect of the 
whole is exceedingly pleasing, and the estimated cost 
of the building is only $2,200 
the open air. It is easily managed—pot it in autumn, 
place it in the cellar, and before midwinter it will 
begin to grow; then bring it to a sunny window, and 
in a very short time it will be in full bloom; when the 
flowers fade, carry it to the cellar again. It possesses, 
as this shows, a great advantage over plants that 
must be kept in a warm room all the season and 
coaxed into flowering. Any one who sees a fine speci¬ 
men of the Dicentra at tliis season with its abundant, 
long, drooping racemes of rose-colored blossoms, will 
conclude that it is as desirable as anything w r e can get 
for winter in our country homes. Being common it is 
within the reach of all, and any one who cares enough 
for flowers to cultivate them would do well to try it. 
Another correspondent of The Tribune, captivated 
with the idea, says : As soon as I read the paragraph, 
the day being mild, I went to some roots I have grow¬ 
ing on the south side of my house, where, being shel¬ 
tered, they always commence growing and bloom 
much earlier than in more exposed positions. I found 
buds already started an inch, and some two inches 
long, though not above ground. I placed a fine root 
HI 
THE DICENTRA SPECTABIEIS AS A 
WINDOW PLANT. 
We suppose comparatively few ladies have ever 
thought of the rare excellence of this old garden 
favorite (commonly called Bleeding Heart) as a win¬ 
dow flower. It is not only graceful in outline, easy 
in care and vigorous in growth, but most attractive in 
flower. If one of our readers will but take up a fine 
large root of this, just as the frost begins to harden 
the ground, put it in a large box with plenty of rich, 
well-drained earth, water regularly and place it on a 
window stand, it will grow and bloom most charm¬ 
ingly. A correspondent of the Tribune, after a first 
trial of it, writes enthusiastically as follows: I have 
been surprised and gratified at my success with it, the 
bloom being much finer than I have ever seen it in 
Design for a Cottage. 
in rich earth, in a seven-inch pot, and set it in a sunny 
south window in my dining room, where I expect soon 
to see it the crowning glory of the room. There are 
several other plants easily forced, and equally fine for 
in-door decoration, not new, but all might not think 
of them. Among which I would mention the Astilbe 
Japonica, sometimes called the Spirea Japonica, which 
is one of the most charming plants we have in cultiva¬ 
tion, particularly desirable for button-hole bouquets; 
also the Madeira Vine, and Lily of the Valley. Sev¬ 
eral roots of the latter should be dug and placed even¬ 
ly together, then holding them close in the hand, tie 
around them a strip of bark, or thin cloth cut bias, 
then pot them and treat as we do Hyacinth bulbs in 
pots. Some one has suggested placing a thin cover¬ 
ing of river sand over the tops of all pots of house- 
plants. I have tried it, and find it an excellent plan. 
It looks neat, and prevents the surface from hardening. 
Pink.— In the last number of the Floral Cabinet 
a lady speaks of Pinks, and thinks it inappropriate to 
call them by that name unless the color is pink. Al¬ 
low me to say that I have long thought the name had 
reference to the pinked, scolloped, or fringed edge, 
which I think all Pinks have. The Clove Pink is so 
called, it seems to me, more on account of its shape 
being similar to the clove than for any similarity in 
odor. It has a delightful fragrance of its own. They 
are indeed of the sweetest of flowers. Another fragrant 
flower is the Musk Mallow, which I have not noticed 
among your annuals or perennials. It is pretty both 
in the leaf and flower, and very easy of cultivation. I 
think it deserves a place in every garden or collection 
of flowers. Mrs. Anna E. Koons. 
Amaryllis. —Will Miss Anna Griscom give in the 
Cabinet the results of her experience with Amaryllis 
Crinum Amabile, with reference to soil, sunshine, rest 
and time of blooming ? Mine thrives luxuriantly, but 
has nof yet blossomed. L. M. McFarland. 
Oxalis. —During a prolonged illness last spring 
many of my plants were neglected, and I thereby lost 
my entire collection of Oxalis among the number, 
much to my regret, as the whole family are great 
favorites of mine—they are such graceful, pretty 
plants, and 
so constant 
and easy of 
culture with¬ 
al. The sorts 
I named as 
being of the 
same kind, 
or rather an¬ 
swering the 
description 
given by Mr. 
Vick, grows 
wild in this 
locality,but a 
long drought 
of eight 
weeks (we 
have not had 
a soaking 
rain since 
May 20) has 
burned up 
even our 
magnificent 
prairie weeds 
and the Ox¬ 
alis with the 
rest; whether 
it would bloom during the winter I cannot say; but I 
will procure some bulbs of both the lilac and yellow 
kinds and forward as soon as a rain invigorates them. 
Rose Cuttings. —Please inform me what is the best 
season for putting out cuttings of Eoses. Whether 
the old wood or new growth should be used. I have 
heard that they should be set out early in March, and 
then again have been told the new growth should be 
used, setting the slips out in pure sand in June. 
Again, some persons say it is a good plan to put them 
in the open ground in the fall, about October, and pro¬ 
tect them through the winter, in which case, I have 
been told, they will nearly always grow in the spring. 
I love flowers dearly, but have only commenced culti¬ 
vating them recently, and am anxious to stock my 
little garden well with Eoses, and cannot afford to buy 
a great many, but can obtain a plenty of cuttings from 
my friends. M. B. J. 
Ansiver .—Eose cuttings do best put in clean sand 
about the first of March, but will strike root freely at 
any time when your wood can be had. It is the con¬ 
dition of the wood that is of the greatest importance. 
