282 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
still we should guard against coddling them, for if we 
nurse them too tenderly now, they will suffer consider¬ 
ably in severe weather. In the case of such plants as 
pansies and violets, which we are growing for blooming 
in the frames, we should ventilate freely, or uncover them 
altogether in fine, sunny weather, and shut up against 
cold snaps, rain or snow; also stir the earth about them 
every week or two, to keep them clean and healthy and 
prevent decay. For the plants you wish merely to winter 
over, if you are not troubled with field-mice, fill up the 
frames with dry oak leaves, and put the sashes on to 
keep them dry. In this way I keep plants in good con¬ 
dition all winter, and so long as the leaves are dry it will 
take a very hard frost to penetrate below them. 
A Cold Pit —Is usually a deeply sunk cold frame, in 
which are wintered such tall-growing plants as azaleas, 
camellias, fig-trees, hollies, araucarias, bamboos, fever- 
tree, and several others. It should not rise any higher 
above ground than is the case with a cold frame. In 
such instances frost is easily kept out. Ventilate freely 
in mild, sunny weather, but in the event of sharp frosts 
the pit should remain covered for several days. 
The Greenhouse. —Scarlet geraniums, Speciosa and 
Earl of Beaconsfield fuchsias, carnations of all sorts, 
bouvardias, nasturtiums, chrysanthemums, Paris daisies, 
“ shrubby ” begonias, oxalis, and some others are in full 
bloom. They want light, airy quarters. Keep Chinese 
primroses and cinerarias cool, near the glass, and slightly 
shaded from warm sunshine, and never allow them to 
suffer for lack of water. Cyclamens should have a place 
as near the glass as possible; they may be kept cool, or 
a little warmer than cinerarias. Remove all decaying 
leaves and flowers. Tobacco stems may be obtained at 
any cigar factory; they cost about a dollar per hundred 
pounds. Spread a lot of them under the benches in the 
greenhouse as a preventive against green-fly. It is bet¬ 
ter than fumigating, except in severe cases. Perennial 
nasturtiums (varieties of Tropceolum lobbianuni) run 
along the rafters and tied to strings will blossom all 
winter long. 
The Cellar. —In a frost-proof cellar we can with 
safety keep century plants, cactuses, oleanders, sweet 
bay, tender rhododendrons, pomegranates, crape myrtle, 
lemon-scented verbenas, fuchsias at rest, and many others. 
It is also the usual storehouse for hyacinths, tulips, nar¬ 
cissi and other bulbs for forcing; we keep these in the 
cellar till they become well rooted or start to grow, when 
we bring them forth to the light. Dahlias, cannas, cala- 
diums, gladioli, tigridias, tuberoses, amaryllis and other 
bulbs at rest are usually kept in the cellar. We should ob¬ 
MILLA 
I T is evident this charming summer-flowering bulb 
does not do as well in England as with us. “ J. C. C.,” 
in the Garden , says of it in reply to an inquiry: “ I am 
glad to be able to say that my previous experience 
is quite confirmed this season, and I might add consid¬ 
erably strengthened, for the imported bulbs were not so 
serve that they are kept dry and free from decay, that the 
tuberoses have the warmest quarters and the tigridias are 
kept beyond the reach of rats or mice. Gloxinias, achi- 
menes and such summer-blooming, “ bulbous ” tender 
plants may, if kept dry, be wintered in the cellar, pro¬ 
viding the minimum temperature is not less than 45 0 
to 50 5 . 
The Window. —Give blooming plants, such as carna¬ 
tions, bouvardias, petunias, roses, heliotropes and oxalises 
the sunniest places ; Chinese primroses, cinerarias and 
calceolarias a place near the glass in a window shaded 
from bright sunshine, and ferns a shady window. Dew or 
sprinkle the plants overhead occasionally. Ventilate free¬ 
ly in mild weather. It is best to open the windows at the 
top rather than at the bottom, and do it early in the day 
and close them early. A dry, parching atmosphere is in¬ 
jurious to plants. There is an impression that plants do 
not thrive in rooms heated by a furnace, but my ob¬ 
servation does not justify this idea; it is true, however, 
that plants seldom thrive in rooms where gas is burned. 
Watering Plants. — Carnations, callas, cinerarias, 
and other plants in active growth need lots of water, but 
at this time of the year be very particular not to over¬ 
water anything. Geraniums, fuchsias, cuttings of all 
kinds, and other plants that we are merely keeping over 
winter, should only get water enough to keep them from 
shrivelling or wilting. Never allow an evergreen plant of 
any kind, except “ succulents,” as the cactus and century 
plant, to get dust dry. 
Stimulants. —Manure water is capital for vigorous 
growing and root-bound plants, but it is an objectionable 
thing to use for house plants. Better remove some of 
the surface earth and replace with rich compost, say 
one-half good loam and one-half well rotted manure. 
Insects on Plants. —Green-fly may be troublesome 
on the young growths of most any plant; mealy bugs 
will thrive anywhere ; thrips are partial to ferns, callas, 
and, In fact, most plants; so is that most destructive 
little rascal, the red spider. There are many kinds of 
insecticides that will kill these insects, and as likely as 
not your plants as well. But tepid water, a soft sponge 
and a little exertion on your own part, will dislodge 
the pests without hurting the plants. Fumigating with 
tobacco will destroy green-fly and thrips, but is harmless 
so far as mealy bugs, red spider and scale are con¬ 
cerned. But fumigation in a dwelling-house window is 
impracticable, I don’t care what some people write to 
the contrary; neither in the window can you ever get rid 
of the red spider by syringing; you have got to wash 
it off. William Falconer. 
BIFLORA. 
large as those which I had planted this year after one 
season’s growth in our own garden; consequently, the 
flower spikes this year are not only stronger but more 
numerous than hitherto. We have several throwing up 
three stems, with three flowers on each, but, unlike Mr. 
Pois, we have only one flower open at a time on each 
