THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
299 
and Oregon, on or near the shores of the Pacific; there 
A. arenaria abounds, growing on hills of sand, covering 
them with a floral carpet even to within twenty feet of 
high-water mark. On account of their trailing habit 
the Abroniasare excellent plants for covering rock work, 
while as bedding plants they are eminently deserving 
of more attention than they at present receive, on 
account of the ease with which they can be cultivated, 
as well as the profusion with which they continue to 
bloom during our hot, dry summer weather. In their 
native homes it is said that they grow with the greatest 
luxuriance in barren sands, where they are exposed to 
the full blaze of the sun from morning until night. They 
are plants easily cultivated, doing best in a light soil 
fully exposed to the sun, and on no account should they 
be planted in damp, shaded situations, or in heavy, wet 
soil. But, in order to cultivate the Abronias success¬ 
fully, they should be given a moderately-enriched light, 
yet deep soil. The seed can be sown about the first of 
April in a shallow box of light, rich soil, and as soon as 
the young plants can be handled, they may be trans¬ 
ferred into three-inch pots; keep close and moist until 
well established, then gradually harden off, and plant 
out when the weather has become settled. Or the seed 
can be sown about the first of Slay in the open air where 
the plants are to grow, but in this case they will not 
flower so early. In sowing remove the husky covering 
with which the seed is enveloped, in order to facilitate 
vegetation. After the frost has destroyed the plants, 
they should be removed and the beds forked up rather 
deeply. In the spring repeat the operation, and you 
will have an abundance of vigorous plants from the self- 
sown seed, providing they are not destroyed by mice 
during the winter season. The following are the differ¬ 
ent varieties briefly described: 
Arenaria —This variety is known in California under 
the name of the 6and plant, on account of its grow¬ 
ing luxuriantly on the sand hills. Its flowers are 
of a pure, waxy yellow color, very fragrant towards 
evening. 
Umbellata —This variety is found growing in the 
vicinity of the Rocky Mountains and on the sea-shore 
near Monterey, Mexico. The flowers are very fragrant, 
wax-like in texture, and of a pale rose color. 
Fragans —This is also found in the vicinity of the 
Rocky Mountains and abundantly near Dallas, Oregon. 
The flowers are of a pale rose color, very fragrant at alt 
times, and of a wax-like texture. 
Villosa is a variety of A. umbellata, but differs from 
it in being more robust in growth; the flowers are also 
larger and of a deeper color. It is also known under the 
name of A. umbellata grandiflora. 
Charles E. Parnell. 
Queens, N. Y. 
WONDERS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 
xn. 
Plants as Manufacturers.— (Continued). 
Many of our manufacturers excel in the art of pack¬ 
ing, but never were goods so well nor so closely packed 
as the coal measures. Living plants are likewise most 
skillful in this line. All their products are done up in 
handy bundles for transportation or conveyance to the 
ends of the earth. Fancy the trouble it would have been 
to us had the wheat-grains been the size of quartern 
loaves, peas like dumplings, or apples big as pumpkins. 
A philosopher is reported to have once lain under an 
Oak; he was struck by the strength of its limbs, the 
size of its trunk, and the symbols of its mighty power. 
At last his eye rested upon an acorn within its tiny 
cup. Beside him grew a Gourd, with its large golden 
fruit. “Aha!” he exclaimed, “there is no God, or if 
there is, he is neither Almighty nor All-wise, for here is 
a great mistake. Why was the weak Gourd chained to 
the earth with its large fruit, while the Oak-tree is only 
laden with the acorn ? Clearly there ought to be an ex¬ 
change in the produce—the Gourd for the Oak,.the 
acorn for the Gourd.” Just at that moment an acorn 
fell on the presumptuous philosopher. So he leaped up, 
exclaiming: “ God is right. Had the Gourd been 
raised so high, and fallen so far, it would have killed 
me.” 
The packages of plants are not only of the best size, 
but the wrappers are mostly air or water-proof. You 
all know the importance of this with perishable articles. 
Hams, tongues, meats, and sweets can only be preserved 
in air-proof packages. There is another singular pecu¬ 
liarity about the packing done by plants. The entire 
plant is often stowed away within a single portion of it. 
Annuals are packed up within their tiny seeds, and 
bulbous plants within their roots. This is of immense 
importance for close stowage and safe distribution. 
This arrangement brings, as it were, the genial climes 
and bright suns of other countries to cheer and enliven 
this. What would many of our winter drawing-rooms 
and conservatories be without the sweetness and beauty 
of good Dutch bulbs ? These let loose before your ad-‘ 
miring eyes all the grandeur and fragrance born of 
John Dutchman’s summer. In the same way, Cape 
bulbs and Orchids bring to us, ready for immediate use, 
the glories of a tropical sunlight, and the warm tints 
painted by the heat of such climes. Finally, plants are 
cleanly manufacturers. They make little or no dirt. 
They touch decomposition at all points, but it is to re¬ 
compose it. They absorb foul odors, but they are no 
longer foul, they convert them into sweetness. No law 
is needed to make plants consume their own smoke— 
they make none. No stringent enactments enforced 
about their chemical processes; they are inoffensive. 
No scavengers are required to gather up their rubbish ; 
they are their own scavengers. True, many of their 
working hands (the leaves), only live one year and then 
seek a grave upon or within the earth. But these 
speedily disappear, and are, in fact, again taken into the 
factory to strengthen and enlarge it. 
The penalty, enacted of most great centres of manu¬ 
facturing industry and commercial activity, is an excess 
of filth in the air you breath, the water you drink, and 
