IN my trips among my horticultural friends, I have often been surprised at the striking similarity in the selection and arrangement of plants in hanging baskets; and now wish to enter a plea for some of our more common plants-not with a view to the exclusion of many of the half hardy ones now used, but as an encouragement to many who have only attained partial success with the usual selection. I have more Chan once enjoyed the wonder of some of our celebrated florists over baskets which, on more careful inspection, are found to contain only very common plants. One of the more prominent of these cases was with a basket which contained one plant each of Trailing Morning Glory (Convolvulus Mauritanicus), Nasturtium, Honeysuckle, Strawberry, Convolvulus Minor (white), Partridge Berry (Mit-chella repens), and common field Cinquefoil. Those who have never tried it, can hardly imagine how much the character of some of the more common vines of trailing or climbing growth may be changed, by systematic crowding in a hanging basket, when it is accompanied with proper pinching back of both main and lateral shoots; not only is the habit of growth very much dwarfed, but the natural scattered bloom of such runners as the Nasturtium and Convolvulus, is concentrated upon a small amount of vine; and the superficial observer is often deceived as to the identity of well known specimens.

Even such notorious stragglers as the Convolvulus major may be reduced to order, and behave themselves with becoming dignity in the hanging basket.

By proper treatment, the Nasturtium may be kept down to a length of two feet, and add very much to the beauty of the collection. The Trailing Morning Glory (C. Mauritanicus), may bo pinched back until its' numerous side shoots are covered with a profusion of light blue flowers - or, if space will permit, it may be carried off in any direction. One spray of common Honeysuckle will do much to relieve the back ground of the basket: and although it rarely blooms under such cramped conditions, yet its foliage is an advantage.

Some speak highly of the Sedum Siebol-dii, but I do not find that it does well in the changeable temperature of a common sitting room, but seems to have its proper room in the more equable air of the conservatory.

A plant or two of the common strawberry will do much to improve the beauty of the basket, and, like my humble communication, adding nothing of beauty of themselves, they serve to show the bright colors of their companions.