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PIT EOB KEEPING ELOWEBS. 
A letter is before me requesting a description of “ a 
pit,” referred to in No. 29, in an article headed, 
“Keeping Plants.” 
The one I spoke of in said article, is dug in a little 
hill-side, sloping to the south, which is much better 
than a level would be. The size must be determined 
by the owner. There are several in our village, some 
larger than this, some smaller. It is dug straight down 
to the depth of about two feet and a half at the lowest 
side; then there is a little offset, or, as my digger 
called it, “a shoulder; ” this is about eight inches wide, 
and extends all around the inside; then it is dug down 
perpendicularly about a foot and a half deeper, which 
makes the extreme bottom smaller than the upper 
part; then posts are driven down into this shoulder, 
one in each corner, the two in the highest, or north 
side, reaching up a foot or more above the surface, 
to admit of an embankment of earth, which slopes 
down at the ends, and is sodded; the whole affair is 
lined with 
plank placed 
behind the 
posts; across 
the ends, from 
one post to 
the other, two 
narrow strips 
of board are 
nailed, one 
above the 
other, to sup¬ 
port the 
shelves hold¬ 
ing pots. At 
top it is fin¬ 
ished up like 
a hot-bed, the 
sashes holding 
the glass part 
in the centre, 
so they can be 
slidden off and 
on, at each 
end. On 
bright days, 
when the 
weather is not 
freezing, I sometimes let some air in, to prevent their 
getting too tender. On very cold nights cover with a 
piece of thick carpet, or something of the kind. 
Now I hope Mrs. Van Epps can understand my 
clumsily given instructions, so that she can construct 
“winter quarters ” for her plants, which will give her 
as much pleasure as my pit has given me. No frost 
entered last winter, my treasures came out looking 
quite well, with a few exceptions. I had two varieties 
of Coleus, which died before the season was half over. 
Had been told before it was too damp for them. I 
place Verbenas on the highest shelf, because it is 
most sunny. Plants ,in the lowest part are apt to 
suffer from wet in rainy seasons. The nearer they 
come to the glass the better they thrive. It is delight¬ 
ful when winter has strewn around his white mantle 
to see them lifting their bright heads in such striking 
contrast. N. L. Schooley. 
Aunt Carrie’s Lily. —In the September number of 
my Cabinet, I find “Aunt Carrie” inquiring for a 
name for her Lily, and as I have one of the same, I 
concluded to tell her about it. I have never seen it 
advertised in any collection, but think it deserves a 
place in every flower garden. With us it is quite 
common, and is known as the “ Congo Lily,” also the 
“ Day Lily,” as the (lower lasts but a day, but a new 
one comes out every morning, until it has bloomed all 
along the stalk. Several have told me they had a 
blue one, but I never saw it in bloom. The white 
Congo has a fragrance more like our Arbutus than 
the Tuberose, I think. Mine has bloomed abund¬ 
antly all summer and had no extras but the weekly 
bath of suds, which 1 find of great benefit to all my 
plants. It is quite hardy here, and does not like to be 
moved, as it will prevent its blooming, unless it is 
done with great care. 
I am treating my Calla to plenty of water, and it 
thrives splendidly, I mean to use the water warm a 
few weeks before bloom is desired. AVill some one 
tell me how to succeed with the Apple Geranium in 
the house in winter ? I lose mine regularly every fall, 
on removing it to the house. I think it must require 
a damp atmosphere, but in sqoite of all I can do, it loses 
its leaves and dies “by inches.” I see that Mr. Dreer 
advertises the seed as the only way to raise it. I have 
Rustic Summer House in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
had several fine ones from slips, and have known 
others to raise from slips also. I have a good many 
seed, and have some young plants too coming from 
seed; if I succeed, will be glad to share with my 
friends of the Cabinet. I have raised fifteen roses 
from cuttings this summer; I used pure sand, and kept 
the pots in the shade, under a grapevine, and gave 
them water as they needed, never allowed the earth to 
approach dryness, and I really feel rewarded for my 
trouble, as they are fine varieties. 
Mrs. R. S. Truslow. 
Double Petunias.— Some one suggested that every 
lady could raise her own double Petunia seed, by fer¬ 
tilizing single ones. I have a beautiful one of which 
I should like to obtain seed, but am entirely ignorant 
of the process; will some friend of the Cabinet kindly 
give the desired information, as soon as possible. The 
Ladies’ Cabinet is a perfect treasure, and the Chro- 
rno a real gem. Stella. 
Blue Verbena.— In looking over my much loved 
Cabinet, I observed that “Dick Hopson” failed in 
raising what we call blue Verbenas. I should like 
very much to exchange blue Verbena for the Pulmona- 
ria Virginica, as I am a great lover of blue flowers. 
Please answer through Cabinet. 
Mrs. S. C. Town. 
Hybridizing. —Has any of the readers of the 
Cabinet tried to hybridize the Petunia and Morning 
Glory yet. If not, let them try to raise a blue Petunia. 
Can the Perpetual Roses be grown from cuttings 
readily? " S. C. 
Greenhouse. —Will some of the readers of the 
Floral Cabinet jdease to give particulars about a 
small greenhouse, say about twenty-five feet long by 
fifteen feet wide; if it must be very tight and free from 
air; in a partial shade, or in sun; if any side must 
be protected from winter winds; and what way it 
should stand, end to north and south, or east and west. 
Please answer in next Cabinet. M. C. II. 
Cannas.— I see some one wants to know how to 
keep her Cannas through the winter. As I have 
never yet written any for the Floral Cabinet, I 
will add my mite. I have Cannas planted in the open 
border, and some in tubs. The ones that are in tubs 
I let dry off, 
and set the 
tubs in the 
cellar in the 
winter, ‘with¬ 
out disturbing 
the roots. 
Those in the 
garden I leave 
until one or 
two light 
frosts, then 
throw some¬ 
thing over 
them two or 
three nights to 
keep the frost 
off; then I dig 
them up with 
as much of the 
earth to them 
as I can get, 
lay the bunch, 
top and all, 
in some dry 
place until it 
is freezing 
weather, then 
shake off most of the earth, put in a box or keg, fill 
in and cover up to the top with sand. Don’t cut off 
the tops if they are not dead ; just let them alone; put 
the box in the cellar; if your cellar is dry they will 
keep good. As our cellar is very damp I. have to look 
at them once and awhile, and frequently bring them 
up and set in the press near the fire. In March I 
always bring the roots in the house and set the boxes 
and tubs near the kitchen stove, and let them sprout, 
ready to plant out. Jessie Lee. 
Cornices.— Please tell “II. M. A.” I have some 
cornices just like hers, only I added, here and there, 
three and four acorns, in groups, making still more 
contrast; or pine cones, split through the centre, also 
look well. Mrs. Mary J. Summerville. 
Exchange. —I would like to exchange with some 
of your subscribers at the north, a bulb of a large and 
beautiful red garden Lily for autumn leaves. I have 
never been able to get any as handsome or brilliant in 
coloring as those of the north. 
Marie F. Peterson. 
Washington, D. C. 
