i6o 



Tlie tonntry Gcntkivoman 



of the centre-piece is a flower of that most 

 appropriate of all flowers for imitating in wax 

 — Lycaste Skinnerii. Under that, again, is a 

 Camellia, with its shell-like petals standing out 

 in relief, flanked on the one side by a Lilium 

 of the spotted lancifolium kind, by a graceful 

 Fuchsia, with its flowers drooping down as if 

 the bouquet was en deshahilc, but really add- 

 ing to its ease and eff'ectiveness. On the 

 other side is a Rose — a beautifully cupped 

 Rose of the Jules Margottin style, so capti- 

 vating from its texture and general build, and 

 so wondrously sought after for its fragrance — 

 but, alas ! it has no smell — it is modelled in 

 wax. Perfect-like though it be, it is only 

 a wax flower, but so well done, in good hands, 

 that it might be a fair apology for the remark 

 of the uninitiated in matters of flowers, that 

 the flower upon which she was looking was 

 as " perfect as if it had been made in wax ! " 



The whole are so grouped as to form a 

 pattern-set for any who choose to take les- 

 sons in the arrangement not only of wax, but 

 of all kinds of flowers that are placed in 

 vases for house decoration. 



All the groups, after they are arranged, 

 should be placed upon a handsome stand, and 

 enclosed in the area of a glass shade. It 

 prevents them from being injured by rude 



hands, and adds much to their general ap- 

 pearance. These shades, to be effective, 

 should always be narrow and long. It does 

 not accord well with the principle of taste to 

 attempt to crowd agreat many flowers together. 

 A crowded style of arrangement, particularly 

 for artificial flowers, is bad. We therefore 

 commend Miss WiUiams' method of easy 

 grouping to the notice of all who are learning 

 the art. A few flowers well arranged and 

 easily put together, is what always should be 

 aimed at. In these days the flowers of the 

 greenhouse or the flower border look immense- 

 ly better if they be put together by way of 

 contrast without the one disturbing the domi- 

 nion of the other. That is why wiring is so 

 effective, and why it should always be preferred 

 to any other mode of assorting flowers before 

 putting them, the one to contrast, or shade, 

 in colour, one towards another. We trust 

 that the lessons we would endeavour to in- 

 culcate will not be lost upon such as require 

 to be taught. We are aware that many of 

 our readers are well up in these matters al- 

 ready, and we know that from them we shall 

 get a patient hearing. It would be well if a 

 few of the successful bouquet artistes would 

 give us an occasional letter for the benefit of 

 the many who are anxious to learn. 



