THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
287 
One of our exchanges says, that north of Napa, Cal., 
'there are two Century-plants growing and about to blos¬ 
som. They were transplanted from small pots eleven 
years ago, and are of immense size. Only a short time 
ago a stalk from the center of each plant began to shoot 
upward, until now they are twenty-seven and twenty- 
eight feet in height, respectively. In one day one of 
these shoots grew nine inches 1 From the tops of these 
shafts the blossoms will soon appear, and then the plant 
will die, never to bloom again. 
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In response to a subscriber’s enquiry we are led to 
state, for the benefit of others also, that the scene shown 
in our premium steel engraving, “The Home of Wash¬ 
ington,” is the family mansion at Mount Vernon upon 
the banks of the Potomac, whose silvery bosom is dotted 
with sails, seen through the foliage which adorned the 
high banks. Upon the broad piazza are seated Martha 
Washington and her niece, and a beautiful little girl 
leans gracefully upon Mrs. W.’s knee. Standing are 
seen General Washington and General Lafayette, who 
hastens to Mount Vernon upon his arrival in America 
in 1784, to greet his warm friend and renew and deepen 
the friendship already well established. In front of the 
piazza, upon the lawn, are seen at play a little nephew, 
black Nannie and two pet dogs, while the sheep and a 
cow are near the edge of the lawn as it borders upon 
the high banks of the river. 
The scene is a pleasant, a restful one to look upon, 
and as an adornment to the walls of home it is not one 
which tires the eye or mind to look upon. The graceful, 
easy positions each have assumed are so natural that no 
impression of fatigue is conveyed in lengthened look¬ 
ing. The engraving has gladdened the homes of many 
readers of the Cabinet, and we hope it may find its way 
to hundreds of others. To those who have already sub¬ 
scribed for the Cabinet, the cost for a copy is 75 cents, 
post-free, securely packed. 
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Our binders for the Cabinet, beautifully lettered in 
gold on the side, are going to every portion of the coun¬ 
try where the Cabinet goes, and we should be glad to 
know that every family taking the Cabinet were care¬ 
fully preserving the numbers from month to month. 
The price placed upon the binders is less than the manu¬ 
facturer’s retail price, our desire being to get them into 
general use. 
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Literary Notes. 
A new claimant for public favor has appeared, bear¬ 
ing the title of Dio Lewis' Monthly. Its aim being to 
1 “ popularize sanitary science,” treating the subject in 
so simple and attractive a manner as to make it inter¬ 
esting to everyone. Mr. Lewis has so long been well- 
known both as writer and lecturer upon health topics, 
that his name as its editor will be sufficient to recom¬ 
mend the magaziuo to many readers. Although mainly 
devoted to the subject of health, this first number con¬ 
tains articles of interest upon other topics. The monthly 
is published by Clarke Bros., Bible House, New York. 
Another magazine comparatively new in the literary 
field, having but reached its fourth issue, bears the name 
of Electrn, and is published at Louisville, Ky. It is 
gotten up in the interests of young people, not children, 
with the desire “to furnish them enjoyable recreation, 
and at the same time help to ennoble, purify and stimu¬ 
late them in all right and elevating directions.” 
We wish it success and hope it may supplant some of 
the literature now so eagerly sought for by the young, 
and which, by its low moral standard, is exerting a bane¬ 
ful influence, the effect of which is already being real¬ 
ized. The August number of the Electra certainly does 
great credit to its lady conductprs, one of its original 
articles being “ Golden-rod,” which we have reprinted 
for the benefit of our readers. 
Among cheap editions of the best current and standard 
literature, the little. volumes issued by the John W. 
Lovell Company, Vesey street, New York, are the most 
attractive, as they are of a convenient size, printed in 
clear type, and bound in neat paper covers. They have 
in press the two popular novels now running as serials, 
“Belinda” and “lone Stewart,” and have recently 
issued Wm. Black’s “Yolande,” Thackeray’s “ Henry 
Esmond,” and a number of works by such authors as 
Canon Farrar, Ileber Newton, etc. 
Goldbeck’s Musical Art, issued monthly at St. Louis, 
Mo., will be appreciated by many lovers of music for its 
valuable assistance to both teacher and scholar. The 
numbers for the year will contain instrumental and 
vocal pieces, with directions for their execution, a course 
in the rudiments of music, a harmony primer and gradu¬ 
ating course for the voice, piano and harmony. Single 
copies can be obtained for fifty cents. 
“ Meadows and Pastures,” a compendium of the grasses 
of Tennessee, prepared expressly for the farmers of 
Tennessee by J. B. Killebrew, A.M., Ph.D. This is one 
of the most useful and interesting publications on the 
native grasses, their history, uses, descriptions, methods 
of culture, and adaptation to our agricultural necessities 
that we have met. It should be in the hands of every 
agriculturist. 
Lovett, J. T., Little Silver, N. J. Catalogue of small 
fruits for autumn planting. Mr. Lovett is one of the 
largest growers of Strawberry plants in this country, the 
result of well-directed skill and labor. 
Tennessee Crop Report for June, 1883. 
Premiums, Rules and Regulations of the Berks Co. 
(Pa.) Agricultural and Horticultural Society at their 
29th Annual Exhibition to be held at Readjng, October 
2d, 3d, 4th and 5th, 1S83. 
Hints for the Fall, is the title of Benson, Maule & 
Co.’s catalogue of Bulbs, Seeds and Small Fruits for fall 
planting, also fancy poultry, swine, etc. Free to all ap¬ 
plicants. Office and seed warehouse, 129 & 131 South 
Front St., Philadelphia, Pa, 
Peter Henderson & Co.’s Annual Catalogue of Hya¬ 
cinths, Tulips, Crocus, Lilies, and all other Bulbs for fall 
planting; fully illustrated. Also their Monthly Whole¬ 
sale list of Plants, Seeds and Bulbs. Free to all appli¬ 
cants. 
<5 Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. Descriptive 
catalogue of Strawberries, and all other small fruits. 
Sent free to all applicants. 
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