Making Hanging Baskets

A lady contributor thus desoribes Ln ;he Country Gentleman how aht iuaki-s and manages hanging baskets : Take coarse, heavy wire t'or foundation and handle ; then iuterluce with oíd hoop wire made pliable by burning or heating to a red heat ; then I takü young Portuacca plants with a lump oí' earth at;ached to eaeb. and put thein thxough ;he interstices, and so fiil the basket. The plants tako kindly to their unnatural position, and soon become a inass oí aeautiful green and brilliant flowers. My baskets holds nearly a half peck oí earth, and look like a haugiug garden. [n each I place an empty potash box, ínsorted iu a eavity in the earth, whieh I 3.11 with water daily, and iu them placo fresh flowers as my fanoy diotates. They iang in my piazza, which is festooued and twined with the American ivy and morning glories, and lio lovelier spot can well be imagined. In fllling the baskets do not use common garden soil, as it is not suitable for growiug plants in this way, í'roui its teníeney to bake together and shrink away froui the sides of the basket or pot; but, if possible, procuro sume top-soil from the pine woods, which is rich with the decay of tho tiny needies of the pines, or a yellow loamy soil, part sandy, from tho florist's. ïhen be sure that there is a little hole iu thc bottoni of the basket to allow the superfluous water to pass away, or else put in bits of charcoal to act as drainage, and also to keep the soil sweet. A piece of sponge is also an ex coUent substitute for a hole in the basket, as it will suck up all tho superfluous moisture, and then allow the roots of the plants in their turn to receive it. Usually, plants n hanging baskets requiro more moisture thati other plants, because they aro more thoroughly exposed on all sides to the air, and the water evaporates more quickly. So if they hang up away f rom direct contact with your eyes, you must give a little water both uigbt mid morning, so that they will net suffer for want of it. I am growing now, for Winter tiowering and foliage, the ivy-leaved geranium, V Elegante; Isolepü gracüis, a iovely grass of a light groen ; Coliseum ivy; Smilax; PerUtrophe angustfotia áurea, a Iovely plant with yellow leaves striped with rreen, while its flowers are of a delicate violet blue; Pilca mubcom, which resembles tree moss, and its graceijnl, drooping habit makes it very desirable ; and Trade scantia zebrina, wbose striped leaves, ot a rich purplish maroon and green, contrast charmiugly with the other plants. These will fill three baskets, which will decórate my dining room and parlor when the face of nature is shrouded in its snowy mantle, and not u green thi:.g is visible out of doors.