New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-26
PLANT CABINETS.

It's a common remark that the most encouraging
Sims of improved and improving taste are 10 dc seen
in the attention gwen to interior decoration. Ier-
baps it will not be held that any considerable
fraction of our people have such correct ideas as 10
home decoration and its proper limitations that they
stand in no need of professional ADVICE. but IL Ii
plain that year by year greater number OF people
are seeking counsel. and year by year the ADVICE
tbe, hear and heed is growing better. Curtains,
painted glass carpe,s fittings aud furniture OF all
kinds are now designed for the place and the man
by artists and by artists who interest themselves III
working out particular individual problems. All
IN the right direction. Ones house has been
called his larger garment, and the owner should not
only be interested in having it beautiful. but spe-
ciollv shifted TO himself and his conditions.
But while this general tendency Is marked, IT
must be admitted that there are available means OF
embellishment which are strangely neglected. ms
is ,trIkingy true of growing plants when, under
slilful hands, can be grouped III infinite variety
and the finest decorative effect There Is 10 lack OF
expenditure Tor floral cmblems and designs which
are employed as part OF the regulation paraDher-
MALTA AT weddings and funerals. Dinner tables are
graced by immense bouquets winch are only an I'M
movement upon the artificial plants and flowers
which display themselves before street windows.
On state occasions too, masses OF flowers ana tolage
hired from me nearest HOiiSJ TOT Spccdl eIlc't
But all this is apart from the purpose OF permanent
decoration. ConservatOries of any size are eXpen-
siye luxuries in thickly quarters of the city,
where every inch of land sought for and too often
the conservatory is not altogether satisfactory. A
conservatory does not conserve unless the gardener
lives in it. and compr mise between a gardeners
greenhouse and lady's boudoir Is rarely fit for
either At best 1t is outside of the house something
in lac visited for transient inspection.
The need is to abolish the pot and shelf notion, and
10 have properly grouped plants which can be cared
for Dy servants OF average capacity. That this is
ACCOMPLISHED in other countries proves little. buC
that II has lately been done by of our landscape
ARTIST for well-kuowD gentleman of this city is a
matter worth recording. An extension north OF the
dipinp room less than ten feet wide and INTO which
t,yo large windows open gives little room for plants
as ordinarily placed. But against the wall between
the windows and III the corners, a layer Of soil is
held by moss bound with wires and the whole is
covered wIih closely growing lycOp0dlum, making a
perpendicular lawn upon when ferns, orchids and
plants with deicately yeIued leaves are tastetuly
grouped At the base of the south side is a row of
the smaller growing palms aud the like, and there
are other pleasing features but the key-note of the
whole is the wall of verdure, which IS slnguarly
bappv device, beautiful in itsef and leaving the
whole floor pace free for use.
THIS of course is only one innovation that can be
made in the ordinary pant-cablnet arrangement,
bat it is suggestive of how large a field there is in
TINS direction yet open for clever designers this
special branch of art.