DECORATING A BRIDGE. MR. VICK: My last I wrote you from Southampton, where I left the steamer; and since then I have been wandering about the country, seeing a good deal and learning a little, but not much, perhaps, to interest your readers. Some days since, learning that the Lord Mayor was to proceed from Guildhall to Westminster in a grand procession, and that London Bridge, over which the procession passed, was to be decorated for the occasion, and as every out-door decoration in this country, I think, means flowers, I was bound to see how a large bridge could be appropriately decorated; and I was well repaid for the trouble. length, with from sixteen to eighteen fruit on a bunch, the berries ranging from one to two inches in diameter, and of a bright red color. It also appears to be of most robust constitution, for whilst its seed parent, Excelsior, is growing on a west wall, and under precisely the same conditions, succumbed to the Tomato disease a month ago, it is still (November 9th.) in full fruit with foliage as green as ever. The Red Currant Tomato is also still in full fruit, and has escaped the disease; thus showing that the new seedling inherits its robust constitution from Red Currant, and the size of berries and flavour from Excelsior. Mr. DAVIDSON has several other good hybrids from the same parents, one very similar to that just described, only that the bunches do not average more than six inches in length, and another with bunches slightly longer but with smaller berries; and although these are both good, the first described is so much superior that he has determined to retain that only. He has appropriately given to it the name of "Grape" Tomato." On approaching, I beheld first an arch more than twenty-five feet in height, bold and graceful, entirely covered with Evergreens arranged with great patience and taste; and from this was suspended baskets of flowers-not poor, | shabby baskets, but as fresh and beautiful as though they had just left the conservatory. There were two of these arches, one at each end of the bridge. On each side of the roadway were placed large Evergreens, forming an PLANT VAGARIES.-M. ALPHONSE LAVALavenue through which the procession passed. LEE, Secretary of the Central Horticultural I could not ascertain whether these specimens Society of France, in a recent lecture states :— were in tubs, because this fact was entirely 1. That the Liquidambar styraciflua in his arconcealed, as at the base of each was a perfect boretum, when planted as a single specimen, mass of Chrysanthemums in flower, certainly never exceeds the dimensions of a bush, but thirty or more around each conifer. In this that when several of them are planted close todec-gether, so that in fact they almost crowd one another, they will all of them attain the dimensions of a small tree. 2. That shrubs and underwood generally will thrive and flourish when planted under Beech trees, but will not even live when planted under the shade of the Walnut. 3. That Nettles will only thrive in the immediate vicinity of human habitations, and that when these are removed the Nettles, which used to abound, almost immediately afterwards disappear also from the locality, but that, on the other hand, no member of the Orchis family seems able to exist in the immediate vicinity of man's abode, as particularly in Switzerland, when peasants' cottages are built on spots where these plants are plentiful, they all disappear and cease to grow.―The Garden. simple way was the great London Bridge orated in honor of the Lord Mayor of London, and as we often make some very lame attempts at decorations, I thought I would let your readers know how this was done. Next week I understand there is to be a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington, and a fine show of flowers and vegetables is expected. I think I shall be there to see what there is to see.-OBSERVER. A NEW TOMATO. The Excelsior Tomato, which we sent to England some years ago, has been the parent of several new sorts, none of which have proved of any value here thus far. The Grape Tomato described below by a correspondent of the Gardeners' Chronicle will not be an exception, we think, for small kinds are not popular in our markets. "Mr. DAVIDSON, gardener to Mrs. MARSON, of Highfield Park, Winchfield, has succeeded in effecting a most valuable cross between Tomato Hathaway's Excelsior and Tomato Red Currant, which for productiveness rivals any I have ever seen, and for beauty it cannot be matched. The fruit is borne in bunchesGrape form-which average nine inches in THE WEATHER.—It is always in order to scold about the weather, and whatever people in California and other places where it seems to be entirely regulated by the season and altitude, find to talk about we can hardly imagine. Our English papers describe a snow storm in Yorkshire that commenced on the 11th of November, and lasted nearly twenty-four hours, leaving fifteen inches of snow on the level. No snow and but little frost here up to Dec. 4th. WINTER FESTIVAL DECORATIONS. JAMES VICK, Esq.-Dear Sir-Have you a small work on Church Decoration for Christmas time, or can you tell me where I can get one? Please answer at your earliest convenience.-J. W. E., Alliance, Ohio. The use of flowers and evergreens for decorative purposes for festive days is a custom so ancient that no record of its origin is to be found, while there is an abundance of evidence as to the antiquity of this custom. As W. A. BARRETT, of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, who kindly sent us his little book on Flowers and Festivals, observes, it seems instinctive in human nature, and to this work we are indebted for many valuable suggestions. This subject we have always made a matter of investigation when abroad, and have occasionally given such suggestions as we thought would aid our readers in making floral decorations more in good taste. We know of no book published in this country giving the information which our correspondent desires, and therefore hasten to furnish a chapter which we hope will be acceptable to very many. IVY LEAVES. Before this number reaches all subscribers it will be too late for Christmas, perhaps, but it will be in season for Easter and family festivities, and it is our purpose to present facts of permanent value. As a general rule our decorations, both for ehurch and house, are made too heavy, and being composed mainly of dark Cedar or Hemlock unrelieved by any color, by either fruit or flower, a house thus decorated appears more like a house of mourning, which certainly is far from the design of those who have spent days and nights to give it an expression of cheerfulness and joy. By the aid of our colored plate and engravings we hope to show a better way. But what can we at the North do, where winter commences in November and every green leaf is withered and driven ruthlessly about by the stormy blast? Let us then, like good and wise workmen, before we begin to build take a careful inventory of the MATERIALS WE CAN COMMAND. By a little care and labor at the proper season, plenty of Ferns may be gathered from the shady, moist woods and on the banks of creeks, and nothing works up better, nothing makes prettier or more fairy-like decorations, as will be seen by our little engravings, showing several designs, and also by fig. 2 of the colored plate. The Ferns, if gathered in the autumn and pressed, will keep color and form for years. The leaves and branches of the English Ivy are both invaluable to the decorator. The large leaves taken from the stem will form many very pretty designs, one of which we have shown in our first engraving, while the branches or even growing plants, with the pots ingeniously concealed, adorn pictures, curtains, etc., in a very satisfactory manner. The little Ground Myrtle, which will grow anywhere, can be worked in occasionally to fill an odd corner. Our Cedars and Hemlocks, when used judiciously, are admirable, and in most places may be had for the gathering. Our friends in some sections can boast of their grand broad-leaved rels, that are also excellent. Lau * FERNS. But these are all green, and to this we have objected; SO we will see if anything can be obtained to relieve the sombreness. We can all gather the bright Autumn Leaves, as almost all ladies do, and how elegantly they work up may be seen by our colored plate, fig. 7, which is copied from a cross now before us, the green being a few Ivy leaves, just for relief, but where green abounds in the room they would not be needed. The seed vessels of the Wild Rose, berries of the Mountain Ash and of the Spindle Tree, (Euonymus,) are all good. Varieties of Hollies are to be found in . But how are we to obtain those large panels of white and blue shown in the colored plate? These may be made of any form desired, and to fit any place. Festival decorations are not designed for close inspection. but for general effect, and simple materials may be used with the most satisfactory results. Colored flannel is as good as anything for a colored background, and even colored paper will answer in many situations. For a white ground nothing is better than wadding, to be had at the dry goods stores for a few pennies a sheet,the kind in sheets with a glazed surface. This also makes excellent letters, that look like solid marble letters when they are placed upon a good dark ground. Rice is a splendid thing for the decorator. If you want a white shield, or any other design, get the form in a board or something of the kind, and cover it with white paper; then give the paper a thick wwww FERNS. WINDOW CURTAIN DECORATED. weeks. This is found in moist and thin woods in some sections of the country, and is kept for sale by florists at about twenty-five cents per pound. The wreaths ready made may be had for fifteen cents a yard, and much less in large quantities. It is shipped in barrels and crates. Its appearance we have shown in figures I and |