THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
49 
carrying with it the inference that other dealers are in 
the habit of selling dead seeds, which is, we think, a 
mistake. However, if a man starts out with the inten¬ 
tion of selling only such as are sure to germinate, he 
will be likely to take due care that they are as good as 
they can be, which will at least be a good start in the 
right direction. 
R. J. Black. Bremen, Ohio, sends us an Illustrated 
Catalogue of Selected Fruits grown on his nurseries 
and fruit farm, in which is listed all the desirable fruits, 
large and small, grown in the country. A specialty 
is made of Stuart’s Golden Apple, and the Dyehouse 
Cherry, both of which are strongly endorsed by the best 
authorities in fruit culture. 
James Vick. Rochester, N. Y. —Floral Guide for 
1884. This comes to us like an old friend, one whose 
visits we are delighted to honor. It is what it purports 
to be, a guide to floriculture; and it is no less a safe 
guide to the various horticultural pursuits. It is a neat 
publication of 134 pages, fully illustrated. The wood 
cuts are remarkably fine, and more justly represent the 
plants than does the colored frontispiece. In this cata¬ 
logue “ Novelties” seem to be wholly ignored, and no¬ 
thing but what has stood the test of a fair trial is quoted. 
Woods, Beach & Co., New Brighton, Pa.—Price-list 
of the New Golden Alternanthera, Aurea nana. A 
dwarf plant with clear yellow foliage. Said to retain 
its color under the most trying circumstances, making 
it a useful plant for ribbon gardening. 
Wm. Anderson, Mount Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. 
Y.—Shakers’ Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue and 
Amateur’s Guide to the Flower and Vegetable Garden. 
This is a plain, neat and concise catalogue, which, with 
ail the seeds offered, is the result of the labor of this pe¬ 
culiar sect. Sent free to all applicants, and it is well 
worth sending for. 
John Lewis Childs, Queens, N. Y. —Annual Descrip¬ 
tive and Illustrated Catalogue of Flower and Vegetable 
Seeds, Bulbs and Plants. We notice a marked improve¬ 
ment in this catalogue from year to year, indicating a 
healthy business. A still greater improvement would 
be, more care in the nomenclature of the plants. A 
colored plate of Tigridias, as a frontispiece, is quite au 
attraction, as it is remarkably well done. We regret to 
say the white-flowered variety does injustice to this 
noble flower, one of the best of our summer bulbs. 
Sent free to all applicants. 
R.. H. Shumway, Rockford, Ill.- Garden Guide for 
1884. This catalogue is remarkable for its illustrations, 
each variety of seeds offered being well represented in 
the illustrations, giving the purchaser a pretty correct 
idea of what he is buying. 
Fruit Notes. —Published monthly by Robert John¬ 
ston, Shortsville, N. Y., at 25c. per annum. This repre¬ 
sents a nursery establishment, and contains many hints 
that are of value to those who intend fruit raising, 
as every man that has land should do. 
Frank Finch, Clyde, N. Y.—Illustrated and Des¬ 
criptive Catalogue of Garden and Flower Seeds, Small- 
fruit Plants, &c., &c. Seed Wheat a specialty. 
A DAY ON THE ST. LAWRENCE. 
The point of departure —A little village, lying on both 
sides of a narrow, but rapid stream, one of the numerous 
tributaries to the northern river. The time of starting 
—While the stars were still shining brightly; when 
cool, fresh breezes mocked all efforts to become com¬ 
fortable, and penetrated the warmest of wraps. 
The above frontier village was so Scotch in name 
that it recalled the liveliest pictures of the days of Wal¬ 
lace, the tartan plaids and bonnets figured so largely 
therein; but, aside from the picturesqueness of its 
situation, it was so Canadian in reality as to be devoid 
of interest, except perhaps for those in whom ad¬ 
miration for things Scottish extended to all bearing 
the name thereof, even to the whisky, doubtless, since 
'that, prohibited in the adjoining towns, attracted to 
itself votaries from far and near. In the darkness, 
made more intense by the fitful light of sundry lan¬ 
terns, with more shouts and confusion than would ac¬ 
company the starting of an European steamer, we 
commenced our journey. 
A small steamboat, with cabin for man, woman and 
infant, (particularly infant), in the stern, with steerage 
accommodations in the bow for the inferior animals, 
namely pigs; between these the boiler; above, the pilot¬ 
house, and a low railing running around the edge of 
the boat—and you have a description, the vividness 
thereof depending upon your own imagination. Since 
hree in the morning is not an hour of intense liveli¬ 
ness, cold and darkness united in keeping us in the 
cabin above mentioned. A jargon of much French, 
some bad English, children crying and pigs squealing, 
finally presented the deck as a haven of refuge; so, just 
before dawn, there we took our stand, it being too 
damp at that time to take any other position. The 
river was so narrow that, notwithstanding the dark¬ 
ness, we could see the outline of the shores distinctly 
and when an old wreck, a reminiscence of the War of 
1812, was pointed out, we strained our eyes to the 
utmost, to gain a view of the old relic. Be it known 
that this little river and vicinity were closely associated 
with that war. Further up the river was an old fort, 
and here came some of the English fleet, which were 
taken an<j sunk, the wreck of one still remaining to 
afford much pleasure to the tourist. To the uninitiated 
eye it has a remarkable resemblance to a canal boat of 
modern construction* but, by all means, let us accept 
the tradition which attaches to it so much that is inter¬ 
esting. 
Just as the stream widened into the larger river, the 
Captain ordered the anchor lowered, saying that there 
was a fog coming from the land, and it would be 
necessary to wait until the sun should rise and dispel 
the mist, in order to discover the channel. We waited 
anxiously for the coming of the day. At length we 
caught a glimpse of the sun, shining dimly ; a 
moment the fog lifted, and then settled down 
