TIIE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
372 
garden. Therefore, the book is the record of their life¬ 
long practice and observation, given in a conversational 
manner. The book was not written, but born from 
ideas which were developed and expressed during the 
conversation of the authors upon their favorite topics; 
these expressions being taken down by a stenographer. 
This interchange of ideas and practical experiences was 
a happy thought, as talking is a far better mode of im¬ 
parting knowledge than writing. Where two men are 
conversing, the one is constantly prompting the other 
by suggestions and queries that would never have pre¬ 
sented themselves to either if alone in his study. Mental 
forces can be united as well as physical ones—perhaps 
better—and the union be proportionately strong. We 
have a friend, a florist, who is a genial and ready writer, 
and our conversations, if carefully reported, would 
make far more interesting and instructive reading than 
either of us alone could write; simply because, when 
two men are in conversation upon a favorite topic, their 
minds are made doubly strong by a magnetic influence 
which mind has upon mind. This influence, in many 
cases is allied to inspiration and is a marked character¬ 
istic in the book under consideration, rendering it both 
useful and interesting, and it will have also a powerful 
effect upon the reader. He will naturally become a 
third party to the conversation, it will prompt him to 
think, and possibly to doubt, many of the facts as 
stated, particularly if they do not harmonize with his 
own practice and observation. The value of this book, 
in a great measure, consists in its power to stimulate 
thought, a man that reads without thinking might as 
well eat without digesting his food. He is running his 
mill with an empty hopper. 
In carefully reviewing this book, we find a vast 
amount of useful matter, much that is not new, as is to 
be expected—because new truths are remarkably rare 
things—but the manner in which farm and garden topics 
are discussed, is so simple, plain and impressive, that 
they will appear entirely new to the reader, and impress 
themselves indellibly upon his mind. 
This book was not intended to gratify a taste for read¬ 
ing, it has a higher aim and pur-pose. It is food for 
thought, and as such it should be in the hands of every 
farmer and horticulturist. 
The principal subjects discussed, are: Training for the 
business of farming; Manures and the modes of appli¬ 
cation ; Plowing, harrowing and cultivating ; Rotation 
of crops ; Crops for soiling and fodder; Grass and its 
management; Live-stock for the farm; Cutting and 
curing of hay; Pests of the farm; Farm machinery; 
Farm culture of vegetables and fruits; Culture of small 
fruit crops. 
* 
* * 
Iris Kaempferi. Like many other desirable plants 
this has disappointed the purchaser, because it has not 
come up to the high mark set upon it by dealers and 
others interested in its cultivation. The following from 
the Gardeners' Magazine will explain the cause of fail¬ 
ure, and if water is a necessity in England, how can 
we, in our dry gardens expect to have it bloom satisfac¬ 
torily unless we can supply it. “ Having watched the 
progress of this plant in English gardens, we are satis¬ 
fied that it may be grown in sun or shade, but best of 
all in the fullest exposure, but the sine qua non is water. 
There is not much gained by supplying this overhead by 
hose or water-pot; the best way to serve the interest of 
the plant is to prepare a bed of peat or quite rotten hot¬ 
bed manure, and upon this lay a bed of loam containing 
plenty of fibre, and having located the plants it will be 
necessary to exercise patience. The cool, moist, subsoil 
will attract the hungry roots, which will descend two 
or three feet to reach a moist cool subsoil, but will per¬ 
ish if limited to a dry, hard top crust. In respect of 
flowering, this Iris is like some Lilies that require a 
whole year to recover after having been disturbed, and 
many a plantation that has been condemned because 
there were few or no flowers produced the first season, 
would have given complete satisfaction if left alone 
for time to tell the tale.” 
* 
* * 
Clianthus Dampierii. We cannot understand why 
this, the most showy of all our annuals—for as such it 
should only be grown—is not more generally cultivated. 
It is impossible to realize the splendid effect of a well 
grown mass of this plant when well furnished with its 
massive bunches of gorgeous flowers, a combination in 
color of glowing scarlet and deep purple, the intensity 
of which is heightened by contrast with the peculiar 
pale green of its hairy leaves. Although a perennial, it 
succeeds well when treated as an annual, and grown in 
the open border. It will succeed well from New York 
southward, if the seeds are planted where the plants are 
to remain, in May, or as soon as the danger from frost 
is past, in a light, rich, sandy soil; they make magnifi¬ 
cent plants, which will flower freely from August until 
killed by frost. The writer has had plants bloom splen¬ 
didly after having had five degrees of frost, which did 
not materially injure them. 
Catalogues, Etc., Received. 
Joseph Bonsall, Salem, Ohio.—Illustrated catalogue 
of Hardy Bulbs for fall planting ; winter-blooming, 
greenhouse and hot-house plants. 
C. E. Allen, Battleboro, Yt.—Fall catalogue of Hy¬ 
acinths, Tulips, and other Bulbs. Plants for winter¬ 
blooming, and small fruit plants. 
C. H. Joosten, 22 New Church St., New York— 
Agent for P. Yan Waveren, Jr. & Co., Hellegom, Hol¬ 
land, wholesale dealers and growers of Hyacinths, 
Tulips, Crocus, Narcissus, Amaryllis, and miscellaneous 
Bulbs. Also agent for the Boskoop Nursery Association, 
Boskoop, Holland, dealers in New Plants, Hardy, Orna¬ 
mental Trees and Shrubs, Conifers, Roses, Herbaceous 
Plants, etc. etc.—Catalogues free to all applicants. 
Greens Nursery Co., Rochester, N. Y.—Annual 
catalogue of Trees, Plants and Vines; small fruits a 
specialty. This catalogue contains much valuable in¬ 
formation in regard to the culture of fruits of all kinds, 
marketing, etc., etc. 
J. T. Lovett, Little Silver, N. J.—Illustrated cata¬ 
logue of Small Fruit Plants, Fruit and Nut-bearing 
Trees, Roses, etc., etc. The Hansell Raspberry and the 
Parry Strawberry, specialties. This catalogue is fully 
illustrated and complete in information as to the cul¬ 
ture of all kinds of fruit. 
Hovey & Co., 16 South Market St., Boston, Mass.— 
Annual descriptive catalogue of Ornamental flowering 
Bulbs for fall planting. Amaryllis Hallii, a perfectly 
hardy species, a specialty. 
N. T. Griffith, Independence, Mo.—A neat little 
catalogue of Dutch Bulbs and greenhouse plants. 
