OUR ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 1885. 
All of our readers who have watched the contents of 
the Ft .o n at, Cabinet during this year, must have been 
gratified to see the large amount of matter prepared 
specially for its pages, which we have been enabled to 
give from writers who are thoroughly familiar with the 
topics they discuss ; whose suggestions are as worthy 
of attention, as their facts are authentic. 
But the past has not been so complete but room re¬ 
mains for improvement, and for 1885, we hope to attain 
more nearly to perfection as “A Magazine of Floricul¬ 
ture and Domestic Arts.” 
New names are to appear among the contributors, 
the number of illustrations increased, the magazine 
made more and more valuable as experience points out 
the channels for improvement, and the growing busi¬ 
ness warrants the additional outlays. 
In announcing our Premiums for 1885, we would call 
attention to the unusual variety placed at the disposal 
of our subscribers to select from, and also to the decided 
value of each number. 
We send, post free, to any subscriber who requests it 
at the time of subscribing, any one of the premiums 
enumerated below. Thus, if you want the ten packets 
of Flower seeds, request “ Premium No. 1;” if you want 
the beautiful novelty, “Tigridia Grandiflora Alba,” 
request “Premium No. 4,” etc., etc. 
Premiums for 1885. 
Flower Seeds. 
Premium No. i.— New Golden Mignonette—Hyacinthus 
Candicans—New Dwarf Petunia—Prize Balsams — 
Prize Asters—Improved Zinnia—Gaillardia Picta 
Lorenziana — Pansy—Fine mixed Gannas — Delphi¬ 
nium. 
Bulbs. 
Premium No. 2 .—50 Gladiolus bulblets.— Which will 
flower the second year—all from fine seedlings. 
Premium No. 3 .—10 Summer flowering Oxalis. —Very 
fine border plants. 
Premium No. 4 .—1 Tigridia Grandiflora Alba. —Pure 
white, spotted with crimson in centre, gold banded 
petals. This is one of the most showy and beautiful 
of all the summer flowering bulbs. 
Premium No. 5 .—1 Bulb each of Tigridia Grandiflora 
(red) and Tigridia Conehiflora (yellow). 
Premium No. 6 .—3 Pearl Tuberoses. —Flowering bulbs. 
Remittances to be at our risk must be in post-office 
orders, bank drafts or registered letter. 
The Home of Washington. 
Size, 1S]4 x 31 inches. 
This magnificent work of art is a Steel-Plate Engrav¬ 
ing of the largest size, and the very choicest production 
of American art and skill. The painting from which it 
is taken was painted by the celebrated T. P. Rossiter, 
and obtained a national reputation. Its value was over 
$5,000. The Steel-Plate Engraving made from it cost 
over $3,000 to produce. The scene depicted in the en¬ 
graving is a charming one. It represents the home of 
George Washington and his family at Mount Vernon 
Upon the spacious piazza is gathered a group in social 
conversation, including Washington and General 
Lafayette, who is on a visit to America. Near at hand, 
on the piazza, is Martha Washington, her niece and a 
graceful little girl, enjoying the pleasant scene with 
their work, and listening to the reading of a letter. 
11 pon the floor of the piazza are strewn the playthings 
of the little girl, while in front of the porch is a little 
nephew with black Nannie, engaged in children’s sports. 
The grassy lawn spreads smoothly all around the 
house, and upon it graze a flock of sheep. In most pic¬ 
turesque position at the farther edge is a snug little 
summer arbor sheltered among the trees. From be¬ 
tween their leafy canopies is seen the spreading bosom 
of the broad and placid Potomac, and far down its 
course are seen many sails and on the other shore 
lovely vistas of scenery. 
The scene is one made memorable by the visit of 
General Lafayette to America in 1784, when he was the 
guest of Washington, and shared the hospitalities and 
social enjoyment which has made the home of Wash¬ 
ington and Mount Vernon of delightful reputation. 
Here was cemented the friendship which had begun 
between them, which resulted in such cordial good 
feelings from France towards America. 
This engraving is one of such social and histori¬ 
cal character that there is no home but would be 
proud to possess it. It is rich in its scenery and senti¬ 
ment. Patriotic, a grand remembrancer of the old 
social days of our Republic, it will recall to every Amer¬ 
ican with pride the home pleasures and social days of 
“ The Father of the Republic.” 
For the parlor no engraving can possibly be more 
beautiful. Ladies will find it beyond their expecta¬ 
tions. The beauty of execution of this engraving must 
be seen to be appreciated. This is no imitation or lith¬ 
ograph, but is guaranteed a genuine Steel-Plate En¬ 
graving. 
We have a limited supply which are held exclusively 
for our subscribers. 
Its retail price is $2.00. To every subscriber who re¬ 
mits us $2.00 we send the Cabinet one year and such 
premium as may be selected from our list for 1885; also 
mail post free—safely secured on a substantial roller—a 
copy of the engraving. 
To Club Raisers. 
THE “FLORAL KINGDOM” ON MORE FAVORABLE TERMS 
During several months we made an offer of the 
sumptuous volume entitled “The Floral Kingdom,” 
for clubs of Six New Yearly Subscriptions, at $1.25 
each. We have now secured a limited supply of that 
elegant book (which was published at $6.50 per copy) 
on terms more favorable than previous purchases, and 
until it is exhausted by purchasers at Five Dollars per 
copy, or by club-raisers, we will deliver (at our office) a 
copy for a club of FOUR New Names. The express 
charges on the book, to points east of the Mississippi 
River, average 35 cents. 
