12 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
months—on crazy quilts, crazy pillows (the last achieve¬ 
ment I heard of was the Garfield monument pattern for 
a quilt, the craziest idea yet). Then I think part of the 
time would be more profitably spent growing flowers; 
it certainly would be more healthy work. Every lady 
is fond of plants; many keep them that do not know 
how to care for them, and they either die outright or 
the owner wishes they would; then she would throw 
them away. 
It is an easy matter to have a few nice plants and very 
little work—if one knows how. The first thing is good 
potting earth; rotted sod one half, the other half made 
up of well-rotted cow-manure and leaf-mold passed 
through a coarse sieve. Almost any plant will grow in 
this. If you cannot get this yourself, almost any florist 
can supply it. Next you want common earthern pots, 
soaked in water, if new, to fill up the pores; wash 
inside and out, if old. A plant will grow better in a 
clean pot, because the water will drain off quicker. If 
the inside of the pot is dirty, when you want to turn 
the plant out to see if it needs re-potting, you will find 
the roots will stick to the sides of the pot. and many of 
them will be broken; if clean, it will come out like 
jelly from a mold. The next thing is the plants. 
Spring is a good time to begin a specimen plant. What I 
mean by a specimen plant is one that shall be well- 
grown, healthy, good shape, and full of bloom all win¬ 
ter. “ Rome was not built in a, day,” nor can you grow 
a. plant in a few days. An Abutilon is one of the 
easiest plants I know of to begin with. Suppose you 
have a small plant such as is sold in the spring; it is in 
a three or four-inch pot; turn the plant out on your left 
hand to see if the ball of earth is full of roots; if it is, 
repot it into a pot two sizes larger—if not let it alone 
until it is. Watch it, and when it needs it repot it. 
This must be done during summer, as the plant needs ; 
the pot can be sunk in the ground when it is warm 
enough; be careful to keep a piece of broken pot over 
the hole in the bottom, else the roots will go through 
into the earth below. The first of September it can be 
repotted for the last time; every time it is newly potted 
it needs shading for a few days, and the foliage kept 
sprinkled, but not much at the roots. All the summer 
it must be watered regularly, also trained. If you wish 
it tree-shaped let it grow as tall as you wish, keeping all 
side-shoots rubbed off ; then nip the top out and let the 
side-branches start near the top. If you prefer it 
bushy let the side-shoots grow, pinching here and there 
to make the plant a good shape. Do not let it bloom 
through the summer; after you have repotted the last 
time let the buds form, and by Thanksgiving you will 
have a plant to be proud of. The Achania Malvaviscus 
grows in the same manner as the Ahutilon, and needs 
the same treatment. Its brilliant scarlet flowers are 
produced all winter. Winter-blooming Fuchsias, like 
Speciosa, Carl Holt and Earl of Beacon sfield, make 
handsome specimens—especially the latter; it has very 
large foliage and flowers, as large again as Speciosa, 
which it resembles somewhat. Heliotrope will grow 
into a large bush, and make a fragrant bouquet of 
itself all winter. A white variety called Snow-wreath 
has very large,handsome foliage and handsomely-shaped 
trusses of bloom, with just the least possible tint of 
lavender. Even common varieties of Geraniums can 
be made to bear from fifteen to twenty trusses of flow¬ 
ers at one time instead of the puny specimens we often 
see. All that is needed to accomplish the work is rich 
earth; let your plants get pot-bound, if you wish them 
to flower well, water, watch and wait. It is pleasant 
work to raise seedling plants, such as Gloxinias, Cy¬ 
clamen, Chinese Primroses, Single Dahlias, Gladiolus, 
Carnations and others. All you need is good seed, fine- 
sifted earth, shallow boxes, warmth and moisture—and 
a little patience—and you may get some hew vaiiety, 
as plants grown from seed are likely to be a little differ¬ 
ent from seed sown. It is as interesting to grow a Carna¬ 
tion from seed as to work it on satin with crewels. A 
tiny seed pushes its way up through the black mold, so 
small you can scarcely see it; it unfolds day by day, in¬ 
creasing in size and beauty. How eager we watch for 
the first signs of color in the bud; note the shape to see 
if it is anything unusual; watch it until fairly open. 
It is as exciting as to embroider one more flower, just 
to see how it is going to look. Try it, and see ! 
Mrs. M. Plumstead. 
A DREAM OF SUMMER. 
Bland as the morning breath of June 
The southwest breezes play, 
And through its haze, the winter noon 
Seems warm as summer’s day. 
The snow-plumed Angel of the North 
Has dropped his icy spear; 
Again the mossy earth looks forth, 
Again the streams gush clear. 
The fox his hillside cell forsakes, 
The muskrat leaves his nook. 
The bluebird in the meadow brakes 
Is singing with the brook. 
“ Bear up, O mother Nature!” cry 
Bird, breeze, and streamlet free ; 
“ Our winter voices prophesy 
Of summer days to thee ! ” 
So, in those winters of the soul, 
By bitter blasts and drear 
O'erswept from memory’s frozen pole, 
Will sunny days appear. 
Reviving Hope and Faith, they show. 
The soul its living powers, 
And how beneath the winter's snow 
Lie germs of summer flowers ! 
The Night is mother of the Day, 
The Winter of the Spring, % 
And ever upon old Decay 
The greenest Mosses cling. 
Behind the cloud the starlight lurks, 
Through showers the sunbeams fall; 
For God, who loveth all his works, 
Has left his Hope with all! — Whittier. 
