The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-25

chooses. Buy two or three .,unoss Of asphal-
tum, and dissolve 1t in turpentine or kero.
sene, making it ligh.er or darker, as one de-
sires, by adding more or less of the asphal-
tum. Lovely rustic baskets are made of sticks
Of the OAK, or maple tree, choosing those OF
equal sise, say the bigness of a mans thumb,
cutting them of equal lengths, eight, ten, or
twelve inches, according to the size of basket
desired. The basket is built up like a log
house, or interlace your fingers, and you will
readily see the design. A heated wire is
thrust through each end of each stick, then
the wire is bent into loop which holds the
cord at the top. A wooden bottom is made,
and nailed on to the bottom of the sticks
The interstiees are filed with moss and the
effect is charming. Any boy of twelve years
could easily make such basket. We once
saw over fifty such baskets hanging in an
orchidaoeous house, and the effect was beau
tiful. They were filled with a very large as
sortment OF vines, all growing most luxuri-
antly, and, we believe, they could not be sur
passed for elegance.
Many articles about the house can be used
as hanging baskets. Pretty butter-dishes or
sugar-bowls can be made useful Tor this pur-
pose, by twisting black or white large bon
net wire firmly round their edges, then
attaching ourtain-cords to this. Even worn.
out fly-c0vers may be applied to this use, first
lining them with moss, or cartridge-p aper, If
moss is not easily obtainable, and filling with
soil. We saw one, the other day; in which
the variegated and the bright green Trades
cantia grew luxuriantly, and made a humble
cottage-window picture of beauty and grace.
As we have now suggested variety of
forms which can be used as hanging baskets,
we will add list of such plants as will best
repay the cultivator, and the soil which should
be used Tor their growth. The German ivy is
of the easiest culture, If watered daily (for it
loves water, and must have it freely to thrive
even in January, measure its daily growth by
inches. The soil should not be too rich; if it
is, the leaves are developed too far apart for
beauty. What we gain in rapid growth, we
lose in grace and loveliness, for the smaller
the leaves and the nearer together, the hand
somer the vine: adding a good proportion of
sand (scouring-sand will do nicely) will
effect this. This ivy puts forth tiny, yellow,
downy balls in clusters, but we have only
seen it once in blossom, although we have
cultivated it for years. Some say that
if it is deprived of water during De-
cember, it will bloom but we know not
what conditions are requisite. Ours would
wilt its life away were it thus punished.
English ivy and poets ivy ESQ called because
it is brought from Melrose Abbey and is said
to have been planted there by Sir Walter
Scott) are both easy of culture; but a vine
must be two or three years cid before it makes
much show. Moneywort is obtainable by all;
it grows in most gardens like weed, and no
one would refuse root of it to the asker. 1t
requires sandy soil and frequent waterings,
then its leaves are small and closely set, and
the effect is lovely. AS we write we look at
one growing in butter dish, made to simulate
agreen cabbage; its bright leaves fall all around
it, and fringe of scarlet and orange berries
from the bitter-sweet vine enhances its beauty.
1t is joy forever, and during these dark, sun
less, wintry days, words fail to tell what it is
to us.
Tradescantia, both variegated and green,
grows most readily-a little cutting becomes,
before many weeks, a trailing vine of great
beauty. While you sleep it grows, and little
is the care it asks of you after you have first
carefully embedded it in a loamy soil. Lobe
lias of all hues, Seduins, Vincas, and many
other species of vines, grow very readily, and
many of them blossom beautifully. The Tom
Thumb Trop@dum, though rather a large
plant for hanging baskets, will, in very poor
soil, grow well and blossom freely. There are
many very desirable vines and plants to be
had the greenhouses for money, but We
write this article especially for those who,
having but little of it, desire to cultivate some
plants that will enliven the home circle, refine
the feelings, and soften the heart.