In private establishments, where space is often limited,it requires no little skill and forethought to keep up the needed supply of flowering plants, for house and conservatory decoration, during the dull, sunless months of winter, together with the never-ceasing demand for cut flowers. The object of these notes is, to touch, in a general way, upon a few subjects, not at all rare and expensive, but indispensable to the private gardener, who is required to grow that which is good to look at, as well as that which is good to cut at.

The number of plants suited for winter work are legion. The season may be said to be inaugurated with the Chrysanthemums, among which are forms and colors enough to please the most fastidious. Young plants of these are always preferable, planted out in May, regularly pinched until July, lifted and potted by middle of September, getting them well established before bringing indoors. This is the most economical way of growing them, for general decorative purposes; but if very fine flowers are required, pot culture is preferable, and when resorted to, unremitting attention must be paid to watering, and potting on as required, otherwise it had better not be attempted, for it is sure to end in failure. Good associates with these are the Double Geraniums, (or more properly Pelargoniums) among which are so many beautiful colors. Young plants grown on in pots plunged out of doors, with the flowers kept off until the middle of September will be found to give good results. Then there are the Stevias and Eupatoriums; these are best kept in pots throughout the summer, as when planted out they make too rank a growth.

The Heliotrope for early flowering, is amenable to the same treatment, also cuttings put in in September and grown on, will make beautiful little plants by the holidays, which will be found useful for many purposes. If, after these show signs of being worn out, they are well cut back, and when just breaking, given a liberal shift, they will again flower by March. Salvia splendens, treated in the same way makes a beautiful plant, of light graceful habit, for conservatory arrangement. If a batch of Tuberoses is potted up in July, and brought on out of doors, they will be objects of great beauty for the conservatory during October and November, as well as useful to cut at. The Carnations, Bouvardias and Roses will form a good succession to the Chrysan. themums. Libonia Floribunda and Penrhosiensis are pretty subjects, coming in about the New Year. Nothing is prettier for the front row in a conser-vatory than an alternate plant of Libonia Penrhosiensis and Roman Hyacinth. Another plant of great merit for winter work, is Linum trigynum, supplying a color quite rare in flowering plants at that season of the year. This is a hungry plant, and must be well fed. It is very subject to red spider, and during the growing season the syringe must be vigorously applied.

Any one who loves Abutilons, should plant them out in summer, and take cuttings of the flowers or leading shoots in September. When rooted, grow on into 4-inch pots, by that time they will begin to flower; plants less than 1 foot high, clothed with large healthy foliage to the rim of the pot. I cannot too highly recommend this method of growing Abutilons. We had a number grown in this way last winter that were the surprise and admiration of all who saw them, the flowers far surpassing in size; those usually borne out of doors a temperature of 500 will keep them in bloom all winter. The English Wallflowers, will be always admired for their sweet odor. We sow these in a shady corner last of May, and pot up in October. We find them of immense value, both for the conservatory and for cutting. The Dutch bulbs, such as Hyacinths, Tulips and Narcissus should be potted at intervals to insure succession. Other pretty bulbs requiring the same treatment are Tritelea uniflora and Allium Neapolitanum. Then there is the favorite Freesia refracta alba with its sweet odor, and the much talked of Amaryllis Treatae will be admired. Astilbe Japonica, with its feathery white flowers,will add grace and beauty to any conservatory arrangement, and is so amenable to forcing that a long succession can be obtained.

We find imported clumps give the best results; indeed in this latitude we have never been able to bring them through the summer to our satisfaction. Deutzia gracilis should be in every collection; fancy a bush draped with Lily of the Valley. For very early forcing it is best grown throughout the summer in pots, as then it ripens up its wood earlier, a point of great importance in the forcing of all such plants.

The Chinese Primulas, Calceolarias and Cinerarias, are indispensable for all conservatory work. Of the Primulas, we usually make three sowings, March, April and May. They require careful nursing, through the hot summer months, but well repay the labor. The Cinerarias and Calceolarias-are best not sown until September. If they can be given a temperature of from 450 to 500 through the winter months they will make rapid progress and come into flower in February and March. Few things give a conservatory a gayer appearance than a well-grown batch of Calceolarias. Cyclamen Persicum and its varieties combine beauty of foliage and flower, and a well-grown Cyclamen will be admired in the choicest arrangement, whether it be in the conservatory or the drawing-room. The best time to sow them is September, in well-drained pots or pans, filled to within 1/2 inch of the top with some light rich soil; cover the seeds about 1/8 inch deep, place a pane of glass over them and keep dark. They take a considerable time to germinate, and the cultivator must exercise great care in watering, so as not to get the soil sour. By the middle of November they should be potted into very small pots and kept well up to the glass in a temperature of 55º throughout the winter.

As the season advances, they must be potted on as required. The best summer quarters for them - the first season - is a cool, shady greenhouse. A look-out should be kept for thrips, to which they are very subject. The next season they can be planted out and lifted before frost.

Among more tender things that will stand removal to the conservatory for a time without injury may be mentioned the Poinsettias, which help to make so gay the holiday season,with their bracts of dazzling scarlet. Young plants of these usually give the finest heads. They can be propagated from cuttings of either the old or young wood. They do well, plunged out of doors during the summer, but should be housed early, as they are very tender, and any lengthened exposure to cold causes them to lose their lower leaves. They will open their bracts to perfection in a temperature of 650 and delight in copious supplies of liquid manure. When fully expanded they can be removed to the conservatory,where they will be in perfection for a long time. Eucharis Amazonica is another gem among flowering plants that can be had in perfection almost any time at the will of the cultivator. It flowers best when a little pot-bound. For winter flowering it should be encouraged to finish up its growth by September, when a rest of from six or eight weeks should be given by removing to a cooler house or a shady place out of doors, only giving sufficient water to keep the foliage from suffering.

After the needed rest, if subjected to a temperature of from 65º to 70°, it will almost be certain to flower, provided the plant is strong enough. A great point in the successful flowering of this plant is to regulate its seasons of growth and rest. It makes its growth immediately after flowering, and every leaf should be fully developed before putting to rest.

Last, but not least, let me say one word in commendation of those beautiful gems of the floral world, the Orchids. I will not enter into any de-tails, as I have already taken up too much of your valuable space; suffice it to say that many of them are as well adapted for decorative purposes as any of those which I have enumerated, and can be grown as cheaply and with far less labor. It is not expense and labor, but a thorough knowledge of their requirements, that is the key to their successful cultivation. South Virginia.