HORTICULTURE. 



299 



Large bouquets, or pyramids, for table ornaments, are generally made on a framework of 

 evergreen. For this purpose, take a number of branches of cedar, hemlock, or other ever- 

 Fig. 5. green, and bind them in a kind of sheaf, with strong 



twine, commencing at the top. After it is properly 

 secured, trim off the stems at the base with a knife, 

 so as to be perfectly even, and with a pair of scissors 

 or shears clip the top so as to form a perfect cone. 

 The flowers are to be inserted into this. 



Fig. 6 represents a very complete apparatus for pre- 

 serving flowers in water, Fig. 6. 

 and at the same time ar- 

 ranging them into the 

 proper form for a table 

 ornament. It is composed 

 of a number of circular 

 tin vessels, one over ano- 

 ther, and diminishing in 

 size from the base up, 

 forming a cone. These 

 vessels are filled with wa- 

 ,ter, and the stems of the 

 'flowers inserted into them. 

 Fig. 7 is a graceful de- 

 1 sign for a wire basket, to 

 be lined with moss. It is | 

 of the shape called by I 

 ladies "gipsy," and the 



effect of it when filled with flowers is far more grace- 

 ful than those of a more formal and rigid pattern. 

 A wire basket for moss should have a wooden base, 

 and after the sides are lined with moss, the basket 

 should be filled with wet or damp sand, which should 

 be covered neatly with moss, taking care that the sur- 

 face is oval, so as to display the flowers to advantage. 

 The stems of the flowers should be inserted in holes 

 made with a sharp stick in the sand. The choicest 

 and smallest flowers should be used to cover the handle. 

 Fig. 5 represents a table ornament of simple con- 

 struction, but of graceful design. Take a large-sized 

 flower-pot, of say from fourteen to eighteen inches dia- 

 meter, and cover its sides with sheets of moss, secured by Fig. 7. 

 passing strong black linen thread around it. This should 

 be mounted on a wooden base, formed of two square 

 blocks of wood, one smaller than the other, surmounted 

 by a circular or cylindrical piece of wood. In the upper 

 end of the latter should be a wooden or iron peg or bolt, 

 which should pass up through the circular hole in the 

 bottom of the flower-pot, to keep it in its proper place. 

 On the upper edge of the flower-pot place a rim formed 

 of a band of hay two or three inches in diameter, either 

 twisted or tied around with twine. This and the wooden 

 base should also be covered with moss. The pyramid of flowers may be made on a frame- 

 work of evergreen, as just directed, or the apparatus fig. 6 may be used. Festoons on the 

 sides would add greatly to the beauty of this design, and should be formed on pieces of hoop 

 or wire. They should be large in the middle, and gradually diminish at both ends. 



