168 
ivies’ Storal fiiafcfiet tm3 fteiorittl Home fiomixaiiiaii. 
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER, 1875. 
WINDOW GARDENING. 
A garden in winter! what a pleasant thought as we 
hear the wind howling, and see the snow flying 
through the air; but. how much pleasanter the sight 
of our window of plants full of bloom. How they 
speak to us of the beautiful summer gone, as well as 
of the one coming, and yet how few, comparatively, 
are willing to put forth the effort required that they 
may enjoy this “thing of beauty’’ in their own homes. 
Do you not, my young married friend, 
spend much time and strength on “that 
which profiteth nothing” to the happiness 
of your little family ? Now let me prevail 
on you to try the experiment for one winter, 
and I am sure you will never willingly give 
it up. But, do you say they are so much 
trouble f So is everything in this world that 
is worth having at all. Surely you will not 
begrudge them a few minutes every day, 
which is all they need after you once have 
them arranged in the fall. Commence with 
a few, and if you have not a bay-window, or 
cannot afford a beautiful flower stand, you 
can surely have a little window box, or even 
a simple shelf in your sunniest window, 
where you may stand five or six pots. And 
now let me give you the benefit of my ex¬ 
perience in selecting your plants : Do not 
select large plants in full bloom, or you will 
be disappointed as I have been time and 
again, but rather take small plants or even 
slips to begin with. Have two or three good 
varieties of single Geraniums, such as tire 
Leonidas, Maid of Kent, or General Grant, 
and do not fail to have a Calla Lily. I 
have one now seven or eight years old, and I have had 
more satisfaction with it than any plant I ever culti¬ 
vated. The treatment could not be more simple. 
In June, when it is done blooming, (and mine 
always blooms from January until June), I take it out 
of the pot, cut the roots off very closely, and re-pot 
with a mixture of leaf mold, sand, and garden soil, 
with fine manure at the bottom of the pot; set in 
some cool, shady place, and pay no further attention 
to it until the last of August, or first of September, 
when I bring it out. Give plenty of water and sun, 
which will be all it will ask until the next spring, un¬ 
less it may be to wash the dust from the leaves once 
or twice during the winter. Try one, and I am sure 
you will not repent it. I had sixteen lilies—beauties 
too—from one pot last winter; if any one can beat 
that, I should be glad to know it. Next in my affec¬ 
tions comes a Chinese Primrose (white, single), which 
I have also had seven or eight years. In summer I 
put it in the ground in a shady place, where it blooms 
a little; but in the winter and early spring months it 
is one mass of beautiful white flowers. A pink one 
makes a very pretty companion for it, but I have not 
been so successful with the pink; try one of each, and 
these, with your Calla and Geraniums, will be a never 
failing source of delight to all who come in and go out 
of your doors. But do not imagine that you can 
slight or forget them day after day, and yet enjoy the 
same results; no! you must love and care for them 
daily, if you would have them smile upon you. “ Per¬ 
severance therein to the end ” is Presbyterian doctrine, 
and is just as good when applied to window garden¬ 
ing as to soul culture. Only try it, and you will 
surely be convinced, at least this is the experience of 
one who is 
No Novice. 
Wandering Jew. —I have twice seen inquiries in 
the Cabinet concerning the Wandering Jew. The 
Tradescantias, zebrina, vittata, &c., are known by 
this name here at the West. That those who inquire 
may know whether this is the jilant they mean, I will 
say it is a creeping plant, with leaves clasping the 
stem, and, when growing freely, throws out little 
rootlets at every joint. If Mrs. R. H. Truslow will 
send me a little seed of Apple Geranium, I will send 
Rustic Summer-House in Central Park. 
in exchange seed of Australian Pea, received from 
California—a perennial, with pink, fragrant flowers. 
Mrs. Fannie E. Briggs. 
Baxter, Jasper Co., Ia. 
A Rustic poet was heard one day to observe thus: 
“ I never took much to writing poetry till I got to 
going with that Johnson girl, and then, by gosh, I 
couldn’t help it!” 
PUBLISHER’S ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
Only 15 Cents.—See how cheap for three months. ., „ 
think hundreds and thousands of our readers have friends everywhere 
who would be glad to see the Cabinet and take it on trial ‘Piease 
recommend it everywhere. We send only three months (our choice 
of numbers) for that price, so as to introduce it everywhere. We do 
not send it any longer at that price, nor permit a trial subscription to 
be renewed again except for a full year. 
Chromos tor Sale, l'o trial trip subscribers we will sell copies 
of our chromos for hack years for following prices : 
“ My Window Garden,” - , _ _ - SO 80 
“ Gems of the Flower Garden,” - , . . * 80 
Gardening.— All interested in gardening, floriculture, plants, 
trees, shrubs, fruits, greenhouses. &c. , will find the Horticulturist— 
also published by us—very desirable. Only 80 cents on trial three 
months. $2.10 per year. 
Get up a Club.— To any one getting up a club of five to the 
Cabinet we give a sixth or extra copy of paper free, to club agent, 
for 65 cents which includes steel plate engraving. Any one who will 
get up a large club, should send to nsfor Special Terms to Chib Agents, 
and also get advance copy of new steel plate engraving, “Rustic 
"Wreath,” price 25 cents. This amount can be afterwards deducted 
from remittance after club has been raised. 
Filk Rook Marks.— Ourreaders can form no idea of the beauty 
of the Silk Book Marks we offer in our paper. They are simply 
superb. Every one who lias purchased one has been the means of 
selling another. Agents can do well with them. In lots of a dozen 
to any one we will se]l at a discount. As birthday or holiday presents 
they are especially appropriate. A special circular, with list of mot¬ 
toes and prices, sent on receipt of P. O. stamp. 
Better Times.— Prospects are excellent for subscription this 
fall and winter. Agents and club agents will find the field more 
encouraging than for two years past. Begin early and secure orders 
before people subscribe to other papers, or bad weather prevents good 
walking. 
Cheapness.— One year’s numbers of the Cabinet contain as 
much reading matter as ten hooks at $1.50 each, and twelve pieces of 
music worth $5. Here is a real value of $20, together with a pretty 
chromo, and postage prepaid, given for only $1.80. 
Caution.— Subscribers, when asked to subscribe to the Cab¬ 
inet "by agents whom they do not know, will always ask them 
for either a letter of recommendation from some prominent cilizen 
of that place or a letter of authority from the publisher. Subscribers 
who pay money to unknown agents always do so at their own risk. 
Publisher is responsible and will furnish the paper only when he 
receives the money. Subscribers must be sure then to see that their 
money is sent to the publisher. 
Household Elegancies. —The announcement of this superb 
new book is stirring up the ladies wonderfully. Hundreds are writ¬ 
ing for terms for clubs to get it as the great premium for this season. 
"We are ourselves more and more delighted with it as the work pro¬ 
gresses. It will be issued STov.15, instead of Nov. I. as before- announced. 
It is about the sizeof“ "Window' Gardening.” full of fancy work, home 
decorations, household art and elegant ways of adorning a home, 
with so many exquisite illustrations, that every lady will be fairly 
crazy with delight when she sees it. We regard it as'the most defin¬ 
able ladies’ book ever published, and it will be truly the grand Gift 
Boolcof the season. Our readers know that anything we issue is so 
splendid in style and superior in merit, that when we make an an¬ 
nouncement, it is received with confidence and the most ready 
patronage. “ Household Elegancies” is the finest work we have yet 
originated, and we will give it free to any one who will get up clubs 
*s follows: 
1. Por 30 trial trip subscribers, 3 months, at $0 35 
2. “ 15 subscribers, 6 months, at - - 65 
8. “ 10 “ i year, at - - 1 80 
4 “ 15 “ 1 “ - - - 1 30 
with copy of Book, and paper one year free. 
Eack Nos. —Wc can supply back numbers of the 
Cabinet as far as July, 1872, and will club them at 
special prices as follow’s to new trial trip subscribers: 
For $2—All back numbers of 1875 and one year 
advance subscription of 1876, including one cliromo, 
“My Window Garden,” and steel plate engraving, 
“Rustic Wreatl 
For $8—Same as above, with addition of back numbers 
full year 1874. 
For $4—Same as above, with addition of hack numbers 
year 1873. 
For $4.50—Full set of Cabinet from July, i S72, to Decem¬ 
ber, 3876, with two chromos and a steel plate engrav¬ 
ing, “Rustic Wreath.” 
Bound Volumes. —We can sell bound volumes of 
1874 only, as" previous to that the large size prevented 
binding. Price for 1874, $2.25, bound and mailed. 
CASH PBIZES FOB ARTICLES. 
To encourage flower lovers and also those who are 
interested in household topics to communicate their bits 
of knowledge, and also to reward them for special efforts, 
the publisher of the Flora: Cabinet offeis tin- follow¬ 
ing prizes for the best articles submitted to us for special 
competition. Competitors will note the following 
KEQUU'EMENTS. 
1. I ach article must not he over six letter pages long 
nor less than four. 
2. All articles must he labelled “ For Competition.” 
Communications not so labelled are supposed to be 
for gratuitous publication, ns we see fit. 
8. All articles must be sent to this office by Nov. 15, and 
prizes will be announced in December number, the 
prize articles being published in January number. 
4. Articles may be on any topic interesting to ladies— 
Flowers, Gardening," Window Gardening, House 
keeping, Fancy Work, Elegancies, Home rets, 
Household Art, &c. 
5. Articles se> t for competition which do not draw px-izes, and 
which contain no request to return to writer, we suppose are 
intended for contributions to be used at our convenience. 
cash prizes. 
1. For best article on Flowers or Window Gardening, - - $15 
2 For best article on Household Topics, 15 
8. 2d best article on each above topics, each, - - - 10 
4. 3d “ “ “ “ - , - 8 
5. Each of the next five best, ----- 5 
All articles must be sent with letter postage fully prepaid; as far as 
possible write only on one side of the paper; avoid foolscap or small 
note paper, and choose large letter paper. Address 
HENRY T. WILLIAMS, Publisher, 
46 Beekman Street, N. Y. 
