THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
38;? 
tiny Aster of the field, the glowing Pelargonium, or the 
magnificent Orchid, if it inspires us with more lofty ideas, 
and a truer appreciation of the goodness and greatness 
of the Creator, it is then to us the more beautiful flower. 
It is our intention to make the Floral Cabinet a 
necessity in every household where refinement and a 
love for the beautiful predominates. We expect and 
desire the Cabinet to grow wiser as it grows older, and 
we promise our readers to consider their wants with an 
increased assiduity and anxiety; we trust the promise 
will be accepted on the faith of what we have done 
already. To carry out our intentions, it is desirable that 
our circulation should be increased. Our subscription 
price is low, and we appeal to our readers to assist us by 
continuing to recommend the Floral Cabinet as the 
best and cheapest magazine on ‘ * Floriculture and Do¬ 
mestic Arts’’ published. 
Our readers have it in their power to assist us materi¬ 
ally in our work. We cannot always anticipate their 
wants, and therefore in the future, as in the past, we 
shall devote all the space that is necessary to Answers to 
Correspondents, and we again extend to our subscribers 
an invitation to make free use of this column. We will 
most cheerfully answer all queries, giving all the infor¬ 
mation possible, in regards to the propagation and cul¬ 
tivation of plants, either in the greenhouse, dwelling, or 
in the open border. 
CHOICE 
Much has been said and written about “choice plants.” 
But upon investigation we find the term choice to be a 
versatile word; when taken in connection with plants 
it conveys a different meaning to different individuals. 
One associates the word with whatever comes from 
abroad, be it an humble or a royal flower; another with 
those that are hard to get, and harder to grow after you 
do get them; another with those for which we pay the 
highest prices; another, for all plants that possess a 
delicate nature; and still another, with whatever is 
beautiful to look upon. 
Now a plant may have all the points mentioned above; 
it may come from a distant country, it may be difficult 
to obtain, hard to cultivate; it may cost us a good round 
sum; it may be delicate and beautiful, and still not be 
choice, as I understand the word. A rare plant is not 
always a choice one, particularly if we keep it in an 
uncongenial atmosphere. 
Webster defines the word “ choice ” in the sense in 
which it is used above, as something worthy of being se¬ 
lected. Now, by what standard do we measure the worth 
of a plant ? Is it not by the qualities that adapt it to the 
place we wish it to occupy? Those plants that are best 
suited to our wall brackets; those plants that are best 
suited to our sunny windows are most “ worthy of being 
selected” for that purpose; consequently they are choice 
ones. Is it a distinction without a difference ? Then 
let me quote that old axiom: “ Handsome is, that hand¬ 
some does.” I never estimate my plants by the prices 
paid for them; dollars and cents neither enhance nor 
lessen their value. I want those that can stand upon 
their own merits, be their cost ten cents or ten dollars; 
We wish it particularly understood that the Floral 
Cabinet is in no way connected with trade interests of 
any kind; it is independent of every influence except 
those of truth and fair dealing. For this reason alone 
nurserymen and seedsmen may advertise in its pages 
without fear of any secret interest associated with its 
management to nullify their solicitations for orders. 
We thank those of the trade who have hitherto given us 
their advertisements, and we remind those who have not 
yet availed themselves of our advertising pages, that 
our circulation is very extensive, and continually in¬ 
creasing, among the purchasers of plants, and there is 
therefore no better medium by which to make known 
the nature of the stock they have for sale. 
As we close the old year, and make preparations for 
the new, with its new hopes and bright prospects, we 
hope to merit more and more the support which has in 
the years past been so cheerfully given us. We do not 
propose to encourage personalities or strife; on the con¬ 
trary, our pages shall be kept free from abuse, and 
everything which would in the least have a tendency to 
interfere with the earnest discussion of the principles 
and events of floriculture. To our thousands of patrons 
and friends who keep us company, we extend a friendly 
hand, and kindly wish them all A Merry Christmas, 
A Happy New Year. 
PLANTS. 
and it is often the case that the one is as worthy of our 
admiration as the other. 
I trust that the reader will not understand me to say 
that whatever is rare, delicate or hard to grow, is not 
worthy of cultivation, for that is not the meaning I 
wish to convey, but, that those plants should not be 
selected for general culture unless we can give them a 
congenial situation, and the things suited to their habits. 
It is characteristic of the human race to sigh for the 
things that lie “ just out of reach;” and the plants we 
do not have are the ones that we want, and we do 
not stop to consider what they will profit us since we 
cannot give them their especial wants and needs, but 
get them if possible, even though our consciences do 
not approve of the outlay ; and they are planted in soil 
and atmosphere the reverse of their native element ; 
and, need I tell the result? How long, think you, would 
it take these plants to deteriorate in beauty or worth 
under the circumstances ? 
Knowing that wet land is not a suitable place to plant 
Potatoes, and, that the sunshine is necessary to mature 
them, we should not hesitate to call that farmer very 
unwise, to use the mildest term, who, after paying a high 
price for some choice variety, plants it in a wet shady 
corner; and yet, in our ignorance of the habits of some 
of these choice plants, we often do things equally 
inconsistent. 
I have in my collection many, that in the common 
acceptation of the word, are termed choice. My Palms 
are grown from seed. For the benefit of those who may 
wish to do likewise, I would recommend first and fore¬ 
most, Pritcliardia Filamentosa. "It is a beautiful Palm 
