202 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
to wear a concealed breastplate of defence against the 
promoters of doubling, who proceed on the assumption 
that double flowers are always better than single ones, 
and will win the smiles of all mankind. Now the truth 
is, it all depends. A double white, red, yellow, or 
purple Primrose, is a most beautiful thing. It is a per¬ 
fect rosette, rich, finished in form, and long lasting. A 
double Ranunculus is a beautiful thing, a model of sym¬ 
metry, a delicious example of coloring. A double Rose 
should not be extolled here, for the question is. who will 
dare to say it is not beautiful? But what of a double 
Snowdrop? What of a double Fuchsia? What of a 
double Snap-dragon ? Yah ! That unmeaning utterance 
is enough in reply to such questions. We say no more, 
but from this walk round the garden we derive a lesson 
for the season.—‘I t all Depends.’” 
* *• 
It has been an unsettled question for a long time, 
whether the Hyacinthus Candicans was a hardy plant. 
It may be safely asserted that the question is settled in 
the affirmative. The experiments made with it last 
winter were of such a character as to remove all doubts. 
We are very glad to be able to state this fact, for it is 
one of our most useful summer-flowering plants. The 
bulbs should be planted in clumps of, say, three, in a 
circle of about two feet; the plants grow about four 
feet high, and furnish hundreds of flowers. The bulbs, 
after planting, may remain undisturbed for a number 
of years, and will require as little attention as any of 
our more common hardy plants. Its preference is for a 
deep, rich, and moderately wet situation. 
-x 
* * 
There should be a society started for the prevention of 
cruelty to plants, with headquarters at Garden City, 
N. Y., where more beautiful trees and shrubs have been 
cruelly crippled for life, by unskillful pruning, than 
anywhere else on this Continent. It is worse than a 
shame, that shrubs, which were but a few years ago ab¬ 
solutely perfect in symmetry and grace,’now completely 
ruined, as far as beauty is concerned. Why should the 
beautiful be left in charge of the ignorant ? 
x 
* -x 
We notice in the schedule of premiums offered for 
plants by the American Institute, at their Exhibition, a 
premium of $50 for the best selection of Geraniums in 
bloom, embracing both single and double varieties, not 
less than 100 pots. We are glad to see this, as it is only 
by giving liberal premiums that a good exhibition of 
plants can be had. To make an exhibit of 100 speci¬ 
men plants, grown as they must be, in ten or twelve- 
inch pots, will cost the grower all that he gets in the 
way of premiums, for cartage and care of his plants, to 
say nothing of the injury they receive in transit. In 
addition to the premiums offered, the exhibitor should 
have all his expenses paid, then they would take some 
interest in an exhibition, and not feel as though they 
were contributing to a poor fund. 
* 
* * 
The following notice of the Single Dahlia from the 
Gardener's Magazine, is precisely our opinion of this, at 
present, popular flower. Nor do we consider it as valu¬ 
able as a decorative plant as the double variety, except¬ 
ing for the fact of its coming into flower earlier, hence 
prolonging its season of bloom ; and also from the fact 
that when properly managed it is a more graceful 
plant: 
“Although the single Dahlias are so popular, and are 
recommended on account of their suitability for cutting 
from, it is a question if their merits as cut flowers have 
not been considerably overrated. At all events, I find 
it so. I daily come in contact with people who have to 
prepare floral decorations, but in regard to the lasting 
qualities of the cut flowers of single Dahlias, I find that 
they do not give universal satisfaction, as they fade so 
quickly. At the most they do not last more than three 
days in a presentable condition, which is disappointing, 
seeing how much they have been praised for that pur¬ 
pose. No doubt the lasting character of these flowers 
is influenced a good deal by the age of the flowers at 
the time they are gathered. If they are fully grown, 
and have already passed all the stages of development, 
they will not last long after being cut. The proper 
thing to do, it seems, is to pick the flowers before they 
are fully grown. It may be that neglect to observe this 
rule has already injuriously affected their popularity as 
cut flowers.” 
Books and Catalogues Received. 
The Century for June contains, under the title of 
“Diary of an American Girl in Cairo during the War 
of 1882,” a contribution to the history of this war in 
Egypt, and as it is written by the daughter of the Chief 
of the Khedival staff, many interesting incidents are 
related which otherwise could not have been preserved. 
Among illustrated articles, ‘ ‘ A French-American Sea¬ 
port,” giving an account of the Island of St. Pierre, 
near Newfoundland, and “Sailor’s Snug Harbor” will, 
perhaps, be found most entertaining. Henry James’s 
new story, “Lady Barberina,” partakes of the charac¬ 
ter of his former novels, and is quite as attractive. 
Robert Grant’s story of “An Average Man” is con¬ 
cluded. We regret that it should close without one re¬ 
deeming trait >of character being brought out; and if 
the “average man’’sees himself as he has here been 
represented, he will hardly feel that there is much to 
commend in the picture. 
Wm. Black’s novel, “Judith Shakespeare,” appearing 
as a serial in Harper's Monthly, promises to be one of 
the best he has yet produced, and the June issue of this 
magazine will be received with pleasure by all its 
readers. Dr. Wheatley contributes a very interesting 
article, freely illustrated, describing the complex opera¬ 
tions of the New York Custom House; a portrait of the 
Collector of the Port of New York accompanies the arti¬ 
cle. “ The North Shore,” “ Sheffield ” and “ Biarritz ” are 
profuse in their illustrations, and are also attractive in 
themselves as descriptions of scenery and character 
sketches that every one enjoys. There are several 
sprightly short stories beside the glimpses of Nature 
with which E. P. Roe is interweaving a delightful little 
romance. 
We have received from A. D. Worthington, Hartford, 
Conn., a copy of “Our Famous Women,” comprising 
the lives and deeds of American women who have dis¬ 
tinguished themselves in literature, science, art and 
music, or are famous as philanthropists, &c. Among 
the numerous authors who have furnished these life- 
sketches we find the names of some of our most popular 
writers. Rose Terry Cooke tells of the life of Mrs. 
