THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
381 
forget .that they have intellects, and waste many hours 
of time that might be devoted to improving the mind 
and to rational pleasures by participating in rounds of 
so-called gaieties from which the true elements of mirth 
are lacking. With the Californian we say let 
ladies all over the land follow the example set before 
them by this San Francisco matron, and substitute 
something in which pleasure and instruction are com¬ 
bined for the merely fashionable parties now in vogue. 
•* 
* * 
A new venture is about to be made in gardening liter¬ 
ature in England. The new paper, which is to be issued 
weekly at the popular price of one penny, is to be en¬ 
tirely devoted to the consideration of gardening in its 
most universal and mostdifli cult branch—the cultivation 
of plants and flowers in the smoky atmosphere and within 
the limited area of town and suburban gardens, in win¬ 
dows, areas, fore-courts, backyards, and all those pent- 
up places were vegetation requires coaxing into growth 
and beauty. It is to emanate from tire Strand Publish¬ 
ing Company, London, and will be under the joint 
editorship of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Jerrold. 
-* 
A writer in the London Garden, who sends many 
greenhouse as well as other flowers bj- mail, says that 
after trying different modes he finds nothing so good as 
tin boxes for protecting them. They are light and 
strong, and by preventing evaporation and withering, 
keep the flowers fresh He sends Violets, Orchids and 
other flowers in these boxes, made six inches long, four- 
inches wide and two inches deep. They weigh four- 
ounces when empty and twelve ounces when compactly 
filled, and the postage on them is moderate. They may 
be made of any other dimensions. If anything is re¬ 
quired for packing the plants so that they will not rattle, 
fine green Moss proves best. Small tin boxes answer 
well for sending specimens of small fruits long dis¬ 
tances by mail. 
4 ? 
# vC* 
Aloes in the botanical gardens at Oxford are in full 
bloom, and the sight is a rare one at Oxford, although 
the plants are said to have been there nearly a hundred 
years. They are about twenty feet high. 
* 
* * 
The value of wood ashes as a fertilizer is too little 
appreciated. They contain in varying proportions the 
valuable mineral properties needed by plants. They are 
especially valuable for orchards in bearing, having an 
as yet unexplained effect in perfecting the fruit. 
* 
* *• 
A Yates County, New York, correspondent of the 
New York Tribune reports that a Quince bush grafted 
on common thorn and without being cultivated, has 
borne regular crops of fruit for over forty years. He 
thinks that this points a moral to nursery men, as th'e 
Quince upon its own roots is uncertain and short¬ 
lived. 
Literary Notes. 
Harper's Magazine for December is of unusual inter¬ 
est and beauty, and takes the place of the special holiday 
edition of last year. It abounds in entertaining articles 
upon that old, yet ever welcome topic—Christmas—and 
for its opening paper, which is profusely illustrated. 
Geo. Wm. Curtis treats the subject in a delightful 
manner. Thackeray’s daughter contributes a personal 
sketch of her father’s friend, the poet Tennyson* 
The “Nest Builders of the Sea,” with illustrations, 
showing the curious habits of many of our fishes, will 
interest all students of nature. Two beautiful Christ¬ 
mas poems, one of which is written by Whittier are also 
among the many attractions of this number. E. P. Roe 
begins his “Nature’s Serial Story,” and Mr. Black’s 
Shakesperian novel, to be illustrated by Abbey, will com¬ 
mence in January, and run parallel with it through the 
year. 
Mrs. Susan N. Carter, the head of the Woman’s 
Art School at Cooper Institute, gives to the readers of 
the December Century her “Recollections of Peter 
Cooper,” a portrait of whom appears as a frontispiece* 
There is also in this number a paper upon “ The Fairest 
County of England,” which is profusely illustrated, 
showing many attractive views of Devonshire scenery. 
Geo. W. Cable’s new novel, to be continued through the- 
year, entitled “ Dr. Sevier,’’ is a story of New Orleans 
life at the' time of the late civil war. “The Impressions 
of a Cousin,” the first one of Henry James series of 
stories to appear during the year, is complete in Novem¬ 
ber and December issues. A novelette entitled “An 
Average Man,”—a story of New York—is begun in this 
number and promises to be of interest. 
The Christmas number of St. Nicholas will be highly 
prized by young people, as it contains nearly a hundred 
illustrations, many of them being reproductions of 
paintings by eminent artists, while among the stories, 
all of which promise • unusual enjoyment, none will be 
read with more interest than the serial, “TheLand of 
Fire,” written by Captain Mayne Reid only a few weeks 
before hisdeath,and who, in a letter to the editor, said “He 
had endeavored to make it instructive,” and “that the 
information of Terra delFuego conveyed by it embraces 
nearly all that is known of that weird land.” 
Messrs. Lee & Shepard, of Boston, have recently pub¬ 
lished a very dainty and unique gift-book bearingfhe title, 
“The Lord is My Shepherd.” This “sweetest of all 
Psalms ” is re-written in song and sonnet by Wm. C. 
Richards, A. M.,Ph. D., whose poems, “A Birthday s 
Song” and “Daisy Stars,” he contributed to our columns* 
The book is illustrated with thirteen full-page illus¬ 
trations. Price, in cloth, $1.30. 
Mrs. F. H. Burnett’s first novel, written several years 
ago for a lady’s magazine, has lately been revised by 
her and given the name originally intended for it— 
Vagabondia—and is now published in book-form by 
James Osgood & Co., Boston. From the same publishers 
we have also received a romance of French life, entitled 
“Guenn—a Wave on the Breton Coast,” by Blanche W. 
Howard, the author of “Aunt Serena.” . 
Messrs. Anton, Roozen & Son’s (Holland) Catalogue 
of’Dutch and(Cape bulbs has been received. This firm 
is said to have been the first to introduce the system of 
selling bulbs direct to foreign consumers, and their 
prices, which [are moderate, include cost of trans¬ 
portation from Holland to New York. J. A. DeVeer, 
318 Broadway, New York, is their agent for this 
country. 
