Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-06-17
THE HONSEHOLD.

Economical husbands should marry Ice
landic wives. Their everyday dress consists
Of thick serge skirt, made without hounces,
and yarn jacket, and the outfit lasts doz-
en- years, so that although they make II
themselves they have plenty of time to do
their husbands sewing" Shall the overbur-
dened wife and mother, who is her own
seamstress, cook, washerwoman, chamber
maid and maid Of all work, emigrate to Ice
land Or will the Icelanders immigrate to
this country as has been proposed, and thence
forth establish the fashions for us2 What q
saving of time in that happy era What a
rest for unstrung nerves, weary limbs and
aching backs No more shall the song Of
the sewing machine be heard in the land, and
sewing machine agents shall disappear from
the face of the earth. For, of course, the
husbands dress in as equally primitive style.
What a fine opportunity there will be for
woodland rambles and botanizing expedi-
tons What chances to study from the
great book of Nature ever lying open before
usl What stores Of knowledge we will OBJ
tain in those twelve years before our dresses
wear out Can that yarn jacket be the close
fitting Jersey? If SO, it might he considered
stylish enough to wear if we wished 10 take
trip to Europe, and the thick serge skirt
would certainly be comfortable on sea voy-
age. I wonder if an influx of Icelanders
would have any effect on the thermometer
during the hot days of summer. In any
event 1 think the ladies' of Vermont will do
well to petition the Icelanders who are look
ing about for a favorable spot to colonize to
consider the advantages offered by our state,
more especially her winters.
Having disposed of the fashions, let us now
consider the flowers, 1.-THE lilies of the field,
which toll not, neither do they spin" was
much interested in L. 8 article on vines and
plants. Among them 1 would recommend
Lilium Canadense, an old favorite of mine
I first found it growing in The fields in Ar
lington. 1t is brought to my mind to-day by
an illustrated article in the Boston Cultlvator
from which quote:
In the search for beautiful plants and
shrubs grown in far-off foreign lands, how
ever commendable and important in progress
i've horticulture, we are apt TO neglect some
of our beautiful native plants, or even some
of those of foreign origin that have become
familiarized to our sight through long years
of growth in their new homes Oftentimes
the value of a plant in the eyes of purchas-
err depends more upon its rarity and cost than
upon its intrinsic merits. Again, fashion
has much to do with the demand for paFticu.
| lar varieties.
1t may interest our lady readers to know
that Just at present the feminine world OF
fashion in Boston and New York are wearing
| pnnofiu uallnuu HOxuaru ar,H to
those which have been most neglected are
now in active Standardization and dai.
sizes. Yellow roses are quite the thing hui
| the daisies are perhaps most popular, being
| less humble than the dandelions and cheaper
than the yellow roses. They are much used
| for trimming straw hats and some theatre
bonnets are to all appearance entirely made
of them. A pretty bonnet is made with two
rows of large daisies in front and a mass Of
lemon verbena leaves in the crown. Tn,
flowers on the dress correspond with its col
or and with the flowers of the hat. They ar,
generally placed in the belt in a large bunch
and should be of only one variety. Will
dark dresses JacqueminOt and Marshal Mel
roses are worn. Lilies of the valley are ais,
much in favor A taste is growing for wear
ing large single flowers, or small sun-hower
with a few daisies.
We do not intend writing fashion articl
in this connection, but we are pleased TO not
a growing appreciation of the beautiful il
nature, even among the humblest and com
monest varieties of flowers. In this same di
rection we have given an illustration on thi
page of the deep colored Canadian lily, whicl
ranks as q most beautiful plant and shoul
be more generally grown among US.
The new lilies introduced from Japan, il
the past few years. have attracted SO muel
attention that we fear our native species ar
being neglected. This ought not to be 70
beauty and merit in the lily family may b
found at home as well as abroad. Our wood
and fields are well supplied with native spt
cies of the lily, and can be improved more O
less by cultivation. The Canadian lily III
UNI Canddense) is found in mountain mead
ows, from Georgia northward into CanadG
The flowers are usually yellow, spotted wit
purple, hut the color is quite variable, an
several distinct varieties are often foun
growing near together.
u 1t is found along the borders of West rivei
from which we transferred plant while
bloom to our own yard, several years sine,
with perfect success. The swamp or rive
pink (RkOdOdendr0n RudifOT-am) is anotht
favorite and easily cultivated. My oxalis hl
exemplifed the miracle of the resurrectio
which every year goes on before us. 1t hi
four leaflets with chocolate colored zor
near the margin. l have the common re
and white oxalis, but this seems to be di
tinct variety. Like the Mexican o. Depp
the roots are parsnip shaped, four inch,
long, and have at the top numerous sma
bulblets by which it can be propagated; IA
Their than this do not know, for it has new,
blossomed. o. Deppei has red flowers but
stemless, which mine is not think L.
] must be the mammoth oxals. have see
very handsome flowers OF this kind whiC
were rose colored with a white throat an
nearly as large as a petunia. Appleton
scribes o. 0ersicOL0r as one of the finest, ha
) ing its white petals edged on the outside wi
crimson, so that the flowers when quite clos
I appear red, when fully open white, and VIII
only partially open white striped with T,
lines on the under side. / do not feel qua
. fed to advise as to the cultivation of bego
las, two varieties of begonia rex having di
! on my hands this spring. hope, howeve
that some one else does. 1 wonder II Re-
a is 80 much absorbed in the planning of ne
I house that she has forgotten us {? And Stell
Q what monopolizes your attention s. and I
we want to hear from you.
\ "GRAEGER's WIFE. ("