FEBRUARY 1, 19'i0. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



243 



Funeral Flowers. 



The use of colored floweix at fune- 

 rals is much more general now than 

 in the past. Init that fact does not 

 make them any more api)ropriate. The 

 rules of art may be hampered by pov- 

 erty, but they also stand firm through 

 the fads of fashion. In the earliest 

 ages sprigs of green, then palm leaves, 

 and afterwards llowers were used to 

 decorate the casket or toml) of the 

 dead. Most of the laces seem to have 

 adopted distinct customs of tlieir own, 

 yet as the world grew older and hu- 

 1 anity spread, even to the remotest 

 parts, and in savage forms. Mother 

 Nature inspired human nature to ex- 

 press its sublimest thoughts by the 

 use of flowers. It is only the cynic of 

 the nineteenth century (the most 

 acutely affected of the tribe) who will 

 attempt to deny thai sentiment, in one 

 form or another, influences the lives of 

 all and guides the destiny of nations. 



Flowers have always been consid- 

 ered the very ablest exponents of that 

 language of the soul, so we find that 

 in the numerous growths in the ad- 

 vancement of civilization there also 

 sprang up a language of flowers. In 

 Japan today it is customary to express 

 most wishes by the use of flower and 

 shrub. In all the nations of Europe 

 at one time or another, the same cus- 

 tom prevailed, and if you will take the 

 trouble to investigate, the history of 

 savage races will tell you many curi- 

 ous things relating to the influence 

 and uses of flowers. The present age 

 is not entitled to the credit of originat- 

 ing many things which are beautiful, 

 it has only intensified beauty by a 

 higher intelligence. When we speak 

 for the great American republic, can 

 we not claim to be conversant with 

 the growth of refine vent? The flor- 

 ists' business furnishes one of the 

 best demonstrations of how far ahead 

 we are. 



We have a language of flowers here, 

 but it is an unwritten one. to be sure. 

 Violets in America convey the same 

 message as violets in France, and a 

 red rose typifies love all the world 

 over. In the countries where flowers 

 are scarce the language and laws of 

 art are subservient to material. In 



this country we have gradually mold- 

 ed the various tastes into more refined 

 models, and a wealth of supplies en- 

 ables us to carry out our wishes. Inil 

 we are continually struggling against 

 the craze for novelty when that craze 

 ignores all refinement. It is no won- 

 der we see so many "Please omit flow- 

 ers" at the end of death notices, for 

 the galaxy of colors often seen in fu- 

 neral floral designs would remind one 

 more of some festive occasion. 



Bright colors have always and will 

 continue to represent the lighter and 

 cheerful moods, and they are not ap- 

 propriate for funerals. A great many 

 florists will use up any kind of flowers 

 they may happen to luive in stock, but 

 the things they thus manufacture do 

 not stand for what is right and proper, 

 it is merely an instance of nercenary 

 motives. We can never agree with the 

 idea that Bridesmaid roses, or deep 

 pink carnations, or red chrysanthe- 

 mums, or any flowers of similar colors 

 are suitable for funerals. Crimson 

 roses may be excepted because they 

 have a meaning no other flowers have. 

 The death chamber is no place tor a 

 riot of colors, the desire to send some- 

 thing different to anybody else should 

 not offer an excuse to outrage good 

 taste. When we see bunches of Am- 

 erican Beauty roses tied with purple, 

 pink or green ril)bon. and sent as a 

 token of respect to the dead, we look 

 upoii it as an insult to art. and those 

 responsible ignorant. White has al- 

 ways been, and despite the low fads, 

 will remain the most expressive color 

 to use in funeral flowers. Lavender, 

 violet and delicate shades of pink are 

 permissible; for instance, tor aged 

 people, violets; young girls, very light 

 pink, such as Curnot or Golden Gate 

 roses; men. crimson roses; ivy or palm 

 leaves are proper for the aged, so are 

 purple pansies; then there are the va- 

 rious clusters of colors to eniphasize 

 the meaning of special designs, but as 

 we have stated before the mad desire 

 to be distinct is responsible for many 

 crimes. 



If there is any form of decoration 

 that calls for more quietness and re- 

 finement of treatment than another, it 

 is that of the funeral. Deep pink, or- 

 ange, scarlet, carmine and glaring col- 



ors are out of pla<e. and the florist 

 sliould be the last to propjose. their use. 

 To wear any kind of flowers at a fu- 

 neral is the very worst t^ste, just a 

 s])rig of boxwood, cypress or bay is 

 all that should ever be carried, and 

 tluil in the right hand. 



Seasonable Flowers Their Uses. 

 White lilai- has been on the New 

 York market some weeks now and 

 much of it is very good; it retails at 

 from .$l..iO to $2.')U per bunch; it is be- 

 ing used for bridal bouquets, table 

 (lecorations and in boxes of the very 

 choicest cut flowers. When used for 

 table, etc., it is best to have a few red 

 or pink roses in a cluster at one side; 

 the long sprays are very pretty with 

 lieauty or any large rose.. Wreath of 

 white lilac and cluster of cattleyas 

 nuikes one of the finest designs. 



Some freesias are coming in extra 

 fine just now; they have long stems 

 and the foliage is good; it is a popular 

 flower for many forms of decoration 

 this season; a bunch of it should go in 

 every large box of cut flowers. Freesia 

 beichtlinii major, the yellow variety, 

 is very pretty with jonquils as a table 

 ilecoration; the white comes in very 

 acceptably for finger-bowl sprays; 

 don't bunch them — two or three sprays 

 and a leaf on the off side of the bowl 

 is the proper thing. 



Tulips, of course, are in and are be- 

 ing used for cheap spring flower table 

 work. These flowers are .specially suit- 

 able for breakfasts or luncheons. Flat 

 baskets or very low dishes are the only 

 things in which you can properly ar- 

 range them; keep your colors separate. 

 At tulip dinners ice cream is usually 

 served in one of the flowers. The lamp 

 shades are tulip shape; they form the 

 finger-bowls, and if fairy electric lights 

 are used they can be stuck inside the 

 flowers; in fact, everything is in a 

 tulip, even the guest card in one along- 

 side the plate; this flower tied with a 

 three-looped bow of baby ribbon can 

 also be worn. 



Almost all the florists' store win- 

 dows have displays of azaleas, and in 

 addition to these being poor in quality, 

 the vast majority of them are badiy 

 arranged; they are placed with the 

 nicety of a crazy patch quilt; a group- 

 ing of colors would show better re- 

 sults. 



Quite a few varieties of yellow nar- 

 cissus can be had and most of them 

 are beautiful; they are especially suit- 

 able for luncheons and teas; use a 

 green Japanese or Venetian vase; their 

 own foliage will supply the best green; 

 these flowers must be arranged loosely 

 and at irregular heights to appear at 

 their prettiest. 



Begonia Glory of Lorraine, if in 

 good condition, makes up grandly for 

 table decoration; the color is very 

 beautiful under artificial light; need 

 not take it out of the pots; use a sau- 

 cer-like dish and tilt the plants; noth- 

 ing should be seen but its own foliage 

 and flower. \ 



Last week New Haven was violet 

 mad. The students at 'Vale had their 

 annual festivities, and the violet be- 



