30-4 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET 
The plant from which my flowers were gathered for 
the meeting blossomed very freely during the month of 
April and tlie^beginning of May in a cold house where, 
during the winter, the thermometer frequently ranged 
only slightly above the freezing point. The flower buds 
however, were entirely uninjured.— J. H, Mangles. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Bravest among the sweet blossoms in all the garden 
row: 
Fair, when most of the flowers shrink from the winds 
that blow; 
Gay, when the dismal north-wind wails through the 
tree-tops dumb: 
Breathing a breath of gladness, is the brave Chrysanthe¬ 
mum. 
One is of tawny color, another of cardinal glow. 
As the cheek of a sun-warmed maiden and reddest of 
wine will show; 
While some are of gorgeous yellow, like gold in a 
monarch's crown, 
And some of a royal purple, dusted with softest down. 
Some of a creamy whiteness, touched to a rosy blush. 
As the snow of the lovely Jungfrau glows with a sunset 
flush: 
Some flame at the heart, pearl-petaled, and lavendor- 
hued are some; 
Yet each of them, crude or cultured, just a brave 
Chrysanthemum. 
Like these have I known some women, fearless when 
others fail: 
Blooming in wintry weather, despite of the wild wind’s 
bale; 
Brilliant (mayhap with color), young as the youngest lass; 
Formed, too, as the full-leaved Dahlia, or Daisy at 
Michaelmas; 
Shedding the spirit's fragrance over a sea of frost, 
Crowning with noontide graces life to the springtime lost; 
Filling with fadeless beauty places wherein they come. 
As the air is brightened to freshness by the brave 
Chrysanthemum. 
—Mary B. Dodge in Continent. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Cyclamens.—Will you kin dly tell me how to keep 
Cyclamens through the summer. I plunge the pots con¬ 
taining the bulbs, about June 1st, in an out-of-the-way 
border, and leave them to themselves. But even so the 
leaves will grow out of all proportion, falling over the 
sides of the pots; and though I cannot complain of the 
quantity of their bloom in the winter, they have not the 
compact and neat appearance of those we see at florists. 
I asked one of those interesting individuals what to 
do with mine; he told me to throw the bulbs away and 
buy new every fall. As I have quite a number of all 
varieties, it won’t pay. Would it do to set them in the 
cellar, on the brick floor, and keep without water, or 
treat as we do Hyacinth bulbs ? 
If some one of your numerous correspondents could 
answer this question, it would be of more value to me 
than two years’ subscription to your paper, which I en¬ 
joy so much. Mrs. G. A. R. 
Asbcry Pabk. 
Answer .—Your treatment of the Cyclamen upon the 
whole is correct, and your experience with the florist 
does not, in the least, differ from that of all others who 
apply for information from them. When you take the 
bulbs in from their summer’s partial rest, you should 
cut all the old leaves away and repot the bulbs in a 
coarse, open, rich soil, using a pot one size larger than 
they formerly grew in. If yours is a favorable situation 
they will not disappoint j-ou in their beautiful foliage; 
they require a moist atmosphere and frequent syring¬ 
ing. 
Yucca.— E. H. C., Holden, Ill.—We |cannot say why 
your Yucca does not bloom, as we have never known 
them to fail when planted in a deep, rich soil; good cul¬ 
tivation, if anything, will make it bloom. The Olean¬ 
der should be cut back annually, soon after flowering, 
in order to keep it within bounds; it must then be grown 
on vigorously; give it plenty of liquid manure. The 
Hydrangea Otaksa may or may not be hardy with you; 
much depends upon the situation;-if the soil is heavy 
and wet, it will not be as likely to withstand the rigors 
of winter as if in a dry and gravelly soil. Experience 
must be your guide. Cannas will keep in a warm, dry 
cellar, but they should be on shelves, above the floor, 
near the ceiling as possible. 
Where to Obtain Plants Noticed in the Cabinet.— 
H. C. G., Corpus Christi.—We cannot advise to the 
best place to buy plants, but should, by all means, ad¬ 
vise our readers to consult our advertising columns, and 
send to our advertisers for catalogues. We notice many 
new varieties that are not yet offered for sale; the lead¬ 
ing dealers will furnish all such, as soon as possible. 
Palms, in a selection of those for the house, you cannot 
