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A Remarkable Vine. — I wish to tell of a remark¬ 
able vine of last summer’s growth—at least I think 
so. I planted seeds of the Goose Egg Gourd; I 
.mow that, because I took them from the egg myself, 
and put them directly in the ground. In due time 
one plant made its appearance, and I watched its 
wonderful growth. It branched off in a dozen ways, 
and ran as if for life, or to see all that there was to be 
seen in a single summer. It seemed to have not only 
an inclination to spread itself as much as possible over 
the ground and across the walks, on an investigating 
tour, but evinced an ambition to get up in the world, 
and, accordingly, made its way over the currant 
bushes, over the asparagus, and along and over the 
fence, to get a peep outside. After a time the blos¬ 
soms, and then the gourds, showed themselves, and I 
was congratulating myself upon my success, when I 
discovered the eggs were not egg-shaped in the least, 
but perfectly round. While watching and wondering 
at this, still believing they would prove themselves in 
the end genuine egg gourds, some of them had become 
as large as a medium-sized apple, and I discovered 
they were all turning yellow instead of white, as a. 
well-behaved egg should do. I was disgusted, sup¬ 
posing in some way I had been deceived into giving 
all that care and thought to a common pumpkin vine. 
It received no more attention from me until quite late 
in the fall, some time after we had severe frosts, and 
when there was little in the border or garden to attract, 
I noticed my pumpkins, or whatever they are. There 
were twenty of them on the one vine, besides some 
that had not fully grown. The twenty were from 
sixteen to eighteen inches in circumference, evidently 
having stopped growing because they had attained 
full size. I had them taken in, and commenced ex¬ 
perimenting, and am prepared to say from the evidence 
of my own taste, and that of others, that pies made 
from them are most excellent—far more delicate than 
the ordinary pumpkin. The rind is very thin and 
tender, the texture and grain of the meat fine, and the 
seed small. Can you tell me what they are ? The 
hot weather did not affect it in the least, and when 
other vines in the vicinity were dried out and dead, 
this was as fresh and green as ever, as indeed it was 
when finally cut down by the frost king. It is de¬ 
cidedly a novelty to me, and I shall give it a place in 
my garden in the future. I saved all the seeds, and 
can supply them to others, if any wish. 
Mrs. Sarah S. Winslow. 
Waterloo, Ind. 
Fuchsias. —In January No. of Cabinet, C. R. S. 
says he has grown slips from single and double white 
Fuchsias. Now, as I have never been able to find a 
white Fuchsia, and have been told by many florists 
that such a thing did not exist, you cannot wonder 
that I am anxious to know if he really possesses one, 
and would ask him to please inform us where he 
procured his treasure. I make Fuchsias and Carna¬ 
tions a specialty, and have had them in profusion 
since the first of December. Speciosa, Carl Halt, 
Gem and Serratifolia are all winter blooming, and 
form a desirable collection. I repot all plants in May, 
and place Fuchsias on the north side of the house, in 
their pots, giving but little water. During summer 
they drop most of their leaves; so much the better; 
bring them in before frost, and uniter freely, giving- 
liquid manure about once a month ; soot-tea is excel¬ 
lent, as it sweetens the earth. Do this and your 
plants will repay you by blooming all winter; they 
will grow so rapidly after a season of rest as to astonish 
you. Carnations do equally well by keeping them in 
the ground in summer in their pots, and pinching off 
the buds until August. All Carnations do not bloom 
in winter; the three varieties of La Purite, with 
Edwardsi and President Degraw, I find good winter 
bloomers, and are truly splendid. I was a subscriber 
to the first No. of the Cabinet, and hail it with 
pleasure; it is a much needed work, and is doing 
much good in many households. S. E. R. 
East Saginaw. 
African Lily.— I have several so-called in my 
garden. They grow four feet high; have bright yel¬ 
low flowers, with black spots on them; are very 
showy and present a fine appearance. I will send 
some bulbs to any one in exchange for Calla Lily or 
Amaryllis. I also have a blue Lily, which is con¬ 
sidered beautiful. Where can I get a Rhododendron, 
and is it hardy? I also would like to get a root of the 
Passion Vine. I got some slips of double Geraniums 
in October, and put them in a box; they have grown 
finely, one fourteen inches high. I don’t know when 
to pot them. I have two of the finest of old-fashioned 
white Roses, one very double, the other half double. 
Rockport, Ind. Mrs. C. P. Laird. 
Ansiver .—Pot your Geraniums in new pots every 
other month while they grow so vigorously. Pots 
should not be smaller in width than one-third the 
height of the plant. 
Calla Lily.— I have had very good success growing 
the Calla, but not much prosperity in having them 
blossom. Will some one tell me if I can do anything 
to make them blossom? A. B. S. 
Ansiver .—Your Callas will no doubt flower in 
spring; if not, in July. Place them for two months 
in full sun; after that shake them clean out and repot; 
grow on as usual, and they will flower well next year. 
Hanging- Basket.— Mrs N. W. wants to know if 
her hanging basket will bo over-burdened as it con¬ 
tains three Tropfeolums, one Canary Bird Flower, 
five Nolana, five Abronia, two Portulacas, one Convol¬ 
vulus Minor, one Sweet Alyssum, two Lobelias. The 
basket is large, but a few leaves are turning yellow on 
the Tropseolums, which are about ten inches high; 
all the plants look well and were started from seed. 
As they grow shall she pull up some, or let them all 
grow? The baskets are lined with paper muslin, 
instead of moss, and many like it better, as it gives 
more room, and does not let the dirt sift out of wire 
baskets. 
Answer. —Yes, your basket is very full; better thin 
out one-third the number. 
Begonia. —1. How is the beautiful, large variegated 
leaf Begonia Rex propagated; what treatment does it 
require? 2. How large a pot should a medium size 
Calla have ? 3. How are seeds of Begonia raised ? 
4. What is to be done with Begonia Rex when the 
leaves begin to decay at the edges, and finally die? 
Mine does so. I am sure it is not too wet. 
Annie. 
Ansiver. —1. Begonia Rex is propagated from single 
leaves. 2. A six or seven inch pot will grow a 
moderate sized Calla well. 3. See note on raising 
Begonia seed in December Cabinet. 4. Keep the 
Begonia dry until spring; it will then make new 
leaves. 
Green Fly.— My plants are lovely! I have a beau- 
ful white Heath, a double Chinese Primrose, and 'a 
Carnation in full bloom, and a Calla nearly out. My 
Roses were troubled with the green fly, so I procured 
some waste tobacco at a cigar manufactory, for which 
I paid the small sum of “thank you, sir.” I then put 
my Rose bushes under the sink, took a red-hot stove 
cover and placed it on a pan of earth, and sprinkled 
some tobacco on it and closed the door and left them 
about twenty minutes, when I took a look at them, 
and the green flies were in their last agonies on the 
earth in the pots. Fearing they might rise again I 
gave them a dose of tobacco tea, which soon put an 
end to them, and now my Roses bid fair to have 
some blossoms. 
Roses. —Are the Prairie Roses, Baltimore Belle 
and the Gem of the Prairies, hardy ? Do they need 
any protection in northern Vermont, and what height 
How long 
does it take 
" R. F. M. 
are hardy, but need 
do they grow in one season ? 
them to bloom? 
Answer. —The Prairie Roses 
protection in Vermont. They grow three to four feet 
each season, and will bloom freely the second and 
third year. In middle States they will do better still. 
The charcoal used for plants is wood charcoal. 
Immortelles —Can any one tell me where I can get 
seed of the Immortelles ? I have often seen notices of 
the flower in catalogues, but no seed has ever been 
offered. I have seen the flower, and would like very 
much to obtain seed, or a plant or plants. 
Maggie. 
Ansiver. —Ask any florist. 
Window Plants.— Will the Cabinet please tell 
me what plants will do well in east and south win¬ 
dows, partially shaded? The Chinese Primrose is the 
only thing that blossoms freely for me in a north 
window. Julia. 
Answer. —1. Flowering plants—Camellias, Cine¬ 
rarias, Calceolarias, Calla Lilies, Fuchsias, Hyacinths 
and Tulips. 2. Foliage plants—European Ivy of 
many varieties, to the green and variegated Smilax; 
many varieties of Ferns and European Myrtle. The 
second list would prove most satisfactory if kept free 
from dust, and the air of the room is not too dry. 
Parlor Ivy. —I enclose a leaf of what we call Parlor 
Ivy. Can you tell the right name by the leaf? It is 
a strong grower, about fifteen feet long; near the 
centre of the vine, for a space of about four feet, the 
leaves have dropped off. What is the cause of it ? 
The leaves at both ends look strong and vigorous. 
A. E. C. 
Answer. —Your Ivy is known as the German Ivy 
(Senecio scandeus.) Leaves drop off either from too 
much water, heat or cold. 
Lily •— Aunt Carrie asks the name of a Lily. I 
think it must be Funkia Japonica, or August Day 
Lily. If Paul De Verges will forward me address and 
stamps I will send him roots of the Water Lily 
(Nympfraea Odorata.) They can be sent during No¬ 
vember or December. I raised the Lilies in the yard in 
a barrel set in the ground in the summer. They were 
planted too thick, and did not blossom well. What 
variety of old-fashioned White Rose does R. H. Blake 
want ? I have one variety that is as handsome as any 
Tea Rose; indeed it has a creamy look—is full and 
perfect. Another that is rather single (white) has 
coarse leaves, and after the season for blooming is 
over, large red seed-vessels form. Another is Calla 
Magnolia, or Lamarque Rose. The last is a monthly. 
Deltnar, Del. Georgia B. Carver. 
Ever Blooming Geraniums.— Will Lady Cullum 
please inform me where one can obtain the Ever 
Blooming Geranium described by her in February No. 
of Cabinet ? jyp ip_ 
