THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
130 
Mignonette Golden Queen. 
This variety, sent out last season as a novelty, has 
proved a valuable acquisition. It is of dwarf compact 
habit, a rapid grower, producing its large spikes of gold¬ 
en flowers in the greatest profusion. We are always 
cautious in regard to new varieties, and particularly so 
of Mignonette, of which there has been so many sent 
out, and each claiming so mariy points of excellence 
not possessed by others. Contrary to the usual custom, 
the originators of this variety have not claimed for it 
aU that its merits entitle it. In addition to the beauty 
and fragrance for which this flower is justly celebrated, 
this has beside, a luxuriance of growth combined with 
a regular habit and form, that adds materiaUy to its 
value as a bedding plant. 
From some experiments made, we believe it far su¬ 
perior for forcing to any other variety. It comes into 
flower sooner, is not so straggling in its growth, and it 
is decidedly pleasing in color. 
Dried Grasses, Ferns, &c. 
A few dried grasses, ferns, wild vines, etc., gathered 
for winter bouquets, give an added pleasure, beside the 
beauty in themselves, in serving as mementoes of many 
a delightful summer jaunt. Ferns are best gathered in 
August, yet September is not tob late to give very satis¬ 
factory results if care is taken in selecting them. Dry 
them between folds of any soft newspaper or blotting 
paper under pressure, the main object being to remove 
all moisture as soon as possible, and to do this rapidly 
the paper should be thick enough to absorb water freely, 
and must be changed as often as they become damp. 
Many of the odd grasses are very pretty, and these are 
best tied together and hung by the stems in a shaded 
place until dried. 
The running blackberry vines, which have begun to 
put on their autumn tints, make beautiful decorations. 
They are simply dried between papers under a pressure, 
being careful that each leaf shall keep its natural posi¬ 
tion. Thistle-blows are very delicate and pretty, as 
also are the milk-week pods. An exchange gives the 
following directions for their preservation : ‘'Gather the 
milk-weed when the pods begin to ripen, .watching it 
carefully lest it burst and the seeds all fly away. Take 
each seed in your fingers and draw it lightly between 
your lips, moistening them a very little. Have a small 
splint or match chipped off quite fine, and the finest 
wire that you can procure, lay the moistened seed 
against the match and wind the wire around it, letting 
the seed be at the top. Continue this until you have a 
ball sufficiently large, which will soon dry thoroughly 
and be the light, downy, fluffy, white fuzz that 
you so much admire. Cut off the match, or whatever 
stick you may have used, close up to the seeds and join 
a bit of coarse wire to it to act as stem.' 1 
How to Pack Plants when Traveling;. 
o 
Many of our readers in their summer sojournings by 
shore or mountain, will desire to carry homo some floral 
relics of pleasant days, and by the foUowing simple 
method they can be easily transported: 
All that you will need is a piece of cotton cloth, colored 
or white as you prefer. Take up the plants so as to leave 
some soil about their roots, and if they are thoroughly 
wetted before removal, the earth will cling tightly to 
them and keep them from wilting. Tear off a strip of 
the cotton and wrap it closely around the earth and 
roots, leaving the branches exposed. Cover with half a 
dozen thicknessesof the cotton and pin it tightly in place, 
or sew the ends together. Put the roots and cotton into 
a dish of water over night. Next morning wrap up in 
dry cloth, and you can pack the plant in your trunk or 
in a basket where it will go safely without any injury to 
its roots, and if they are wrapped up in the cloth for a 
week or ten days the plants will come out fresh and fair. 
Sea-side and mountain ferns can be transported in this 
manner without any injury to them. Also all kinds of 
garden and house plants. When unpacked, place the 
roots, still in the cotton, into a little warm water, and 
give them a good bath for an horn or more, and then 
transplant them at nightfall, and shade for a few days 
from the hot sun,and keep well watered nightly, s.o. J. 
TnE Candle Tree. —The tallow tree, or, as it is some¬ 
times, called the “ candle tree, ” a native of China, which 
for a century or more has been used as a popular shade 
tree in the principal cities of the Southern States along 
the coast, is now creating some attention in California, 
as it is thought that tallow can be obtained from these 
trees cheaper than the illuminating oils at present used 
in lighthouses and elsewhere. In its native country the 
seeds and pods of the tree are braised and then boiled, 
causing a kind of tallow to rise to the surface, which 
is much used in the manufacture of candles. The 
colored candles used in the decoration of our Christmas 
trees are said to be made from this wax .—Scientific 
American. 
KATYDID. 
I love to hear thine-earnest voice, 
Wherever thou art hid, 
Thou testy little dogmatist, 
Thou pretty Katydid ! 
Thou mindest me of gentle folks,— 
Old gentle folks are they,— 
Thou say’st an undisputed thing 
In such a solemn way. 
Thou art a female Katydid ! 
I know it by the trill 
That quivers through thy piercing notes, 
So petulant and shrill. 
I think there is a knot of you 
Beneath the hollow tree— 
A knot of spinster Katydids,— 
Do Katydids drink tea? 
O, tell me where did Katy live, 
And what did Katy do ? 
And was she very fair and young, 
And yet so wicked too? 
Did Katy love a naughty man, 
Or kiss more cheeks than one? 
I warrant Katy did no more 
Than many a Kate has done. 
— [Holmei. 
