Texas we pass a great deal of our
time on the gallery, which is a very necessary part of a Southern home.
If it faces a public road it has its drawbacks, and sometimes, by reason
of arid soil or large trees near the house, vines will not flourish. To
such a gallery one or two movable screens will be of great use. Mine,
last year, was made of a rather deep, narrow, long box, about 18 inches
deep, 12 inches wide and 36 inches long. Can be mounted on casters or
not. If hard winds prevail, two short cross strips on the ends of the
box will prevent tipping over. My screen was four feet square, made of a
light frame work of narrow laths and wire netting, fastened securely to
the box. The box was planted with Madeira Vine tubers, and was ready for
use in six weeks. I kept it clipped all summer to induce new growth. It
was very pretty, and behind the green bank I sewed or read, secure from
the public gaze. Behind this screen I placed my afternoon tea table, and
sometimes in the cool of the afternoon enjoyed a social chat. This year
I shall make one of blooming vines, to stay out of doors till buds set.
I have a two year old Empress of China Rose I expect to use the same
way.--_Mrs. W. J. Standlee._

VIRGINIA

_Editor Mayflower:_

What Emma Odell says in the October issue of the Mississippi negro is
equally true of his brother, or rather sister, in Virginia. Poor as this
shiftless class usually is, many a cabin of rude logs nestles amid
dainty trailing vines and bright hued blossoms, well worthy to adorn a
far more pretentious mansion. I never knew any member of the colored
race here to boast a pit or greenhouse.--doubtless because they can
usually beg enough cuttings of tender plants from white neighbors in the
spring to fill their tin cans. Little care they for flower pots; any old
broken pitcher, rusty bucket, water pail or teapot, it matters not, so
it will hold dirt. It is the plant they are after, not a pretty pot to
hold it. Their "luck" with Chrysanthemums amounts almost to magic
sometimes. They can make almost any plant thrive and blossom, though
seemingly in their daily round of toil they have but scant time to work
over their flowers.--_Roe Ann Oke._

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