THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
405 
these variations. This reason must certainly be for the 
want of a better one, for many of our most rigorous 
and healthy plants produce variegated foliage or flowers 
that differ materially from those of the parent plant. 
The Chinese Azaleas are proverbial “sports;” some¬ 
times the flowers of striped varieties are all white, 
sometimes red, and at other times parti-colored, and 
many of our varieties are perpetuations of these sports, 
some of which continue true and others go back to the 
original. The probable cause of “ sports ” in flowers is 
because of their having undergone so many changes by 
cross-fertilization, and a natural tendency to return to 
the original form. One of the most peculiar “ sports ” 
we have noticed in a long time, was pointed out to us 
recently by John Thorpe, Esq., on one of the oldest 
Chrysanthemums, Golden Beverly, a fine double flower 
of rich golden yellow color. One of the flowers on this 
plant was pure white, others half white, half yellow, 
while some had but one or two white petals. This we 
believe to be the first variation in color of this particular 
variety, and it has been many years under cultivation. 
Can it be possible that the flower is changing its color, 
as the hairs of our head change by age ? 
* 
* * 
For table decoration Ferns are extensively used, and 
for that purpose there are no plants, because of their 
light, graceful habit, better adapted. In this country, 
we regret to say, it is color not form that- is desired for 
decorative purposes. Masses of coarse flowers literally 
piled up in heaps is too often considered a gorgeous 
display, when in reality, such decoration is simply 
wretched taste. A simple Fern that does not offend the 
eye nor obstruct the view, is far more appropriate than 
high banks of flowers. An “amateur.” of good taste 
makes the following excellent remarks in the Gardeners’ 
Magazine: “One of the very best Ferns for the table of 
the sitting and drawing-room is Pteris cretica, of which 
the variegated variety is so widely known. In collec¬ 
tions the form with variegated fronds is useful for the 
contrast it presents to the other kinds, but for in-door 
decorations, whether in town or country, the species is 
unquestionably the most valuable. In style of growth 
and elegance of appearance, it comes very near to 
Pteris serridata major, but it is superior to that elegant 
Fern, as the fronds have a smooth shining surface, and 
the dust cannot so readily settle upon them, and what 
does settle upon them can be readily removed. One of 
the examples I have indoors,has occupied during the past 
three years a place in a sitting-room, in which a fire is 
constantly burning during the autumn, winter and spring 
and it is now as bright and fresh as when.it was first taken 
into the room. It has been repotted once, and care is 
taken to supply it with a sufficiency of water and to 
keep the fronds free from dust. During the winter the 
fronds are carefully sponged with tepid water about 
once a week, and in the summer it is taken outside 
twice a week and watered overhead with a can to which 
a rather coarse rose has been affixed. By this very 
simple course of procedure, the plant has been main¬ 
tained in as fresh and healthy a condition as could be 
desired. I have tried a good many Ferns in the sitting- 
room, but have not found one to equal this free-growing 
Pteris, and I have, therefore, no hesitation in recom¬ 
mending it to those who are partial to the cultivation 
of Ferns in indoor apartments, without the assistance 
of cases and bell glasses.” 
“Thou Shalt Not Steal,” is one of the command¬ 
ments that is forgotten, sometimes, in cases of strong 
temptation. Natures that give away under such cir¬ 
cumstances are generally regarded as weak or low. In 
all cases a thief is heartily despised, and in but few in¬ 
stances do they receive human sympathy. There are 
instances when kindness shown the culprit has been 
truly a blessing; they are, however, rare. There are 
numerous cases of theft where the individual that loses 
his property is not the principal loser. We have one in 
point. In looking over Messrs. Hallock & Thorpe’s 
collection of Chrysanthemums, a few days since, we 
noticed some of their seedlings, remarkable for the size, 
form and color of their flowers, properties which are, 
by common consent, regarded as essential to entitle the 
plant to consideration. But there were considerations far 
beyond these that claimed our attention, viz.: the con¬ 
stant and steady development of character, that the 
casual observer would rarely notice. In fact the ex¬ 
perienced eye would get bewildered and fail to notice 
the remarkable changes that were constantly going on 
before it, unheeded. But of the plants in general we do 
not now wish to speak; but rather of a matter quite 
foreign to this. Our attention was called to several 
plants of surpassing beauty and loveliness. “ Of course 
we shall see these on exhibition, Mr. Thrope?” we said. 
“No,” he replied, “I dare not take these.” Why? we 
asked. His reply was, “because the visitors rob our 
plants of their young growth for the purposes of pro- 
pogation. This was done last year to an alarming ex¬ 
tent, consequently we shall not exhibit our best plants 
this year.” 
It is not generally supposed that the love of flowers 
begets a desire to steal, but it is an astounding fact that 
there are more petty thieves among the lovers of 
flowers than are to be found in any other class of the 
community. We have, as has almost every plant 
grower, seen ladies of the utmost respectability, ap¬ 
parently, stealthily break off “slips,” when asking the 
price of plants, quietly put the same in pockets, pre¬ 
pared for the occasion, and then go off without making 
a purchase, saying they would call again; with a men¬ 
tal reservation, “if the stolen cuttings did not take 
root.” 
We deeply regret the circumstance that deprived the 
lover of the Chrysanthemum the pleasure of seeing 
some forms of this most beautiful flower at the late ex¬ 
hibition at the New York Horticultural Society’s 
rooms. 
* 
* * 
“White Plume” Celery. —From what we saw of 
this Celery last season, we were not particularly well 
pleased with it, as we did not think the ease of culture 
with which it could be obtained, and its remarkable 
beauty would compensate for what we considered a 
lack of richness and tenderness, the essentials of good 
Celery. Knowing full well that this, like all other vege¬ 
table forms was capable of improvement or develop¬ 
ment, and should not be too hastily condemned, wegave 
it a fair trial this season, one of the most unfavorable 
for the growth of this plant we have had within our re¬ 
membrance, in order to fully test its qualities, so that 
that we might give it a good name if deserving, and the 
reverse, if, in our experience, it was not worth cultivat¬ 
ing. The result has been most gratifying, and, as we 
regard it a decided acquisition, we cannot too strongly 
