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AjN AMATEUR’S SUCCESS WITH 
FLOWERS. 
All my life I have been an ardent lover of flowers, 
but most of the time so circumstanced that it was im¬ 
possible for me to cultivate them. But after my mar¬ 
riage I determined to have a few window plants, at 
least. Unfortunately for me, my husband character¬ 
ized plants as “useless weeds/’ and the time devoted 
to their culture as “ misspent time.’’ This damped 
my enthusiasm, hut did not prevent me trying to have 
some of “ Flora’s treasures.” But I was very ignorant 
of the treatment necessary for the healthy growth of 
tender plants. All I thought essential for successful 
window-gardening was to place the plants in soil of 
some kind, give water occasionally, and keep from 
freezing. I commenced with some plants obtained 
from a greenhouse, which did only tolerably well until 
winter, when I took them into the house. I have no 
south or east window, save an east one in kitchen and a 
south one in pantry. So I, not then knowing how 
necessary the sun’s rays are to have window plants 
bloom, placed them on a table near a north window of 
the sitting-room, and awoke one cold winter’s morning 
to find my pets all frozen. My husband rejoiced at 
this, I know, though he endeavored to conceal his 
pleasure under the mask of assumed sympathy for my 
loss. When I look back, with the light I have 
obtained from experience and authorities on flower- 
culture, I wonder my plants lived any length of time, 
they were subjected to such bad treatment. I watered 
them often with ice-cold water, kept them sometimes 
in a tropical temperature, again at almost freezing 
point. My Fuchsias were, I know, pot-bound, and the 
Geraniums in such large boxes that it would require 
months ere they would fill them with roots sufficient 
to produce blooms. I was somewhat discouraged, 
but determined to try again. I subscribed for the 
Floral Cabinet, aud' it is the best investment I ever 
made; for, from its contents I derived a great deal of 
information in relation to the treatment of my pets. I 
purchased some more plants and cuttings, and began 
to study the nature of each kind, and made the dis¬ 
covery that, as children differ in character and dispo¬ 
sition, each one requiring a somewhat different train¬ 
ing, so do plants ; and what may be proper treatment 
and food for one will not do for all others. Now, as 
to results. I have some sixty plants—Geraniums, 
single and double, Fuchsias, single and double, Heli¬ 
otropes, Dwarf Pomegranates, Tritomas, Lily Aura- 
tum, Calla, variegated and scented Geraniums, Smilax, 
and Ivies of all kinds, Verbenas, and a great many 
others. If you could see my Smilax—yards and yards 
of it! 
I pot all my plants in a compost, one-third sand, 
one-third leaf-mold, and one-third well rotted sods. 
Some plauts that I keep for foliage, as scented Ger¬ 
aniums, I pot in richer soil, in which there is well 
rotted manure. The exception is foliage plants, which 
I find do better in poorer soil and have brighter foliage. 
When I start cuttings of Geraniums, which I do in 
leaf-mold and sand, I put them in rich soil, in small 
pots, until they look strong and thrifty, then re-pot in 
somewhat larger pots and not as rich soil; result, less 
foliage, more blooms. I believe in cutting hack Roses 
and Fuchsias after blooming, and giving them, and all 
other plants, a season of rest. I always fill my pots 
with bits of broken pots about one-fourth, place a little 
moss or manure over this to give good drainage, then 
fill up with soil. In summer place plauts on tables out 
of doors, under trees, so that they get the morning sun. 
All my plants bloom that are kept for that purpose, 
and so determined are they to continue to do so that 
when I cut them hack a great many have buds on. 
In winter I keep them all on two tables, one before 
an east window in the kitchen, the other before a south 
window in the pantry. When company comes, those 
that are in bloom go into the parlor for the time being. 
On very cold nights I carry the most tender ones into 
the dining-room; hut as there is fire in the kitchen 
stove all night, and the room small, the thermometer 
seldom goes below 50 D —that is the temperature I keep 
them at night, and 65° through the day. In this way 
I manage to have flowers in cold weather. One 
General Grant Geranium h id nine large clusters at 
one time, a double scarlet seven, and a double 
Fuchsia one hundred and ten buds. Sprinkle with 
water three times a week; water whenever needed. 
Sometimes, on cold mornings, pour hot water in sau¬ 
cers and on sides of pots ; use stimulants seldom, 
sometimes a little carbonate of ammonia, or “ barn¬ 
yard coffee.” Not troubled often with aphis, or any 
insect; if ever, wash plants in soapsuds or weak 
tobacco water. My plants are more healthy-looking 
than any I see in greenhouses, and when my friends 
exclaim, “ How do you make them grow so?” I 
alvvays answer, “By taking care of them.” Now, if I 
have succeeded so well in such narrow quarters, what 
wonderful things I would do if I had a hay-window. 
My husband has promised me one next year. What 
blissful visions of flowers my imagination revels in! 
How many times I picture to myself how I will have 
my plants arranged therein! When that mueh-wished- 
for event occurs, Mr. Editor, I will send you a photo¬ 
graph of it. 
Carrie Clifford. 
(if your ground is not sandy), and twice as much leaf- 
mold from the woods. Leave your beds in this condi¬ 
tion until spring. About the last of April manage to 
take another spare hour, and with garden-fork go over 
your beds again. You will find the ground in admir¬ 
able condition, and the work so light as not to tire you. 
After raking smoothly, plant your flower seeds, being 
careful to arrange them tastefully in regard to color 
and habit of growth. Those requiring to he massed 
look well planted in rings, squares, or diamonds. In 
selecting your seeds you should select those which are 
hardy, as they will grow with the little attention which 
your limited time will permit you to give. When your 
plants are well up, pull out the weeds and loosen the 
ground around the flower stalks with a small hoe, or a 
knife. This will require, perhaps, a half-hour, and in 
two or three weeks, if you can spend another half-hour 
in the same way, you will ho amply rewarded. Thus 
you may have an abundance of beautiful flowers, with 
comparatively little labor, and the whole amount of 
time required not exceeding three-and-a-half hours, 
which you will never miss; and your home will he 
made so much more beautiful. And the admiration 
expressed for your flowers by the neighbors, as well as 
by papa and the hoys, will amply repay you for time 
and toil. 
Country Girl. 
HOW TO MANAGE A FLOWER GARDEN. 
I feel it to he my duty to say a few words, through 
that matchless little sheet, the Cabinet, to its numer¬ 
ous lovers and patrons. Not that I am quite sure of 
being able to tell any one that which they do not 
know; but the liberality which enables the readers of 
the Cabinet to communicate their experiences in flower 
culture, and the rapidly-growing interest in the subject, 
awakens a desire to give any information that 1 can. 
There is a numerous class of ladies who love flowers, 
and -who would delight in cultivating them, hut are 
denied this pleasure, because they feel that they have 
not the time to spare. I am ready to acknowledge 
that the prospect is a dark one to the farmer’s wife or 
daughter,, who has to serve in the separate places of 
cook, chambermaid, dairymaid, and laundress. I was 
going to remark, that “ I know how it is myself,” hut 
as that is regarded as slang, I will add that I have had 
some experience in such life. And yet I confidently 
assert, that, while you may not he able to make the 
entire “ wilderness blossom,” you need not he without 
these home ornaments; and this is the way in which 
I would have you manage it: In the fall, after farm 
labor has ceased to be pressing, tell the hired man, 
“ big brother,” papa, or any other man who is blest 
with a desire to please the ladies (and here I wish to 
remark that a man who cares nothing for pleasing the 
ladies seems to me to serve the same purpose in life 
that the Canadian thistle, or cockle-bur, does on a 
farm), that you want his assistance for one hour. This 
you are sure to get, if you ask for it pleasantly, and if 
you do not do so, you don’t deserve it. Then, having 
previously laid out your plan, have him spade up your 
beds, after having brought a wheelbarrow load of sand 
HINTS ON GROWING FLOWERS. 
There is scarcely a family which has not some place 
that can he devoted to tiro culture of flowers. 
They may not be able to furnish a large, commo¬ 
dious garden; hut there will he a little corner some¬ 
where which will be just the place to make a flower¬ 
bed. If it is small it will furnish as nice flowers, and 
give great pleasure. 
To he successful in growing these gems of the floral 
world we must first put the soil in a proper condition. 
Well rotted turf and leaf-mold are excellent. Procure 
a quantity of these, and in some handy place make a 
compost by adding stable manure, charcoal, sand, aud 
some good garden soil; upon this turn all the waste 
water from the kitchen, and the suds of washing-days, 
and when well decayed work it till pulverized fine, and 
you have the best soil for the flower garden that can 
he had. Next get your seeds of the most reliable 
seedsman in the country. Those best adapted to the 
climate will flourish with less care than the more ten¬ 
der plants. Constant bloomers generally give good 
satisfaction, and are preferred by many. Asters, 
Petunias, Verbenas, Pansies, Pinks in all varieties, 
Dahlias, Lilies,Tulips, aud Gladiolii, are indispensable, 
and many more might he mentioned that would de¬ 
light every eye. 
After planting the seeds, care must he taken lest 
they should be burnt by the scorching rays of the sun. 
Superphosphate of lime costs hut a trifle, and if hoed 
in around little plants will give them an early start ; 
after which, water occasionally with liquid manure. 
When buds make their appearance the soil should 
not be disturbed, as you would he in danger of injur¬ 
ing the little fibrous roots, which might blast the buds 
of some species. In season of blooming pick all the 
flowers you please. The more you cut the more blos¬ 
soms you will have. Let ripen only what you wish 
for seed another year. All the old stalks should he 
cut and cleared away as soon as frost has killed the 
leaves; manure the roots, cover up the less hardy ones, 
and they are ready for the snows of winter ; and many 
dreary days must elapse before you can again watch 
the little sprouts of your floral beauties. 
Clarinda E. Willcutt. 
