1003. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



47 



I THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



i 



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WEDDING DECOKATION. 



Tho aooonipauyiug ilhistiation of a 

 wedding decoration is from a photograph 

 of work put up by Poolo & Purllant at 

 St. Patrick 's eliurch, Bcllefontaine, O. 

 AVild smilax was largely used about the 

 entrance and white chrysanthemums and 

 ribbon were used along tho central aisle. 

 At the altar chrysanthemums and deco- 

 rative plants were employed to good ef- 

 fect. This is said to have been the most 

 .■laborate decoration erer put up in Belle- 

 ton taine. 



DRAPERY STUDIES. 



IV — Mimicry. 



Among the patterns which can be cop- 

 ied sensibly and legitimately in flower 

 and foliage designing are corn stalks, 

 spider webs, lovers' knots, geometrical 

 figures as found on insects ' wings, and 

 numerous beautiful unnamed forms of 

 decoration seen on plants and animals 

 and even on minerals. Many of these 

 ;ire mimicked from one great natural or- 

 der in another, orchids being conspic- 

 uous examples in their resemblance to 

 the markings of butterflies and other in- 

 sects. 



The different kinds of spider webs are 

 fascinating copies, and not difiicult to 

 reproduce. Among the accompanying 

 illustrations (see half-tones on pages 48 

 and 49) is the photograph of a re- 

 production of a simple form of web em- 

 ployed in a screen. The same design has 

 been used on front of a chapel wall, and 

 in the chancel and on either side. The 

 design can be adapted to a large place 

 and can be repeated indefinitely on even 

 or rough surfaces, across corners or in 

 tall doorways or arches. 



A free adaptation of the corn stalk 

 design is found illustrated. A medium 

 sized string of smila;^ with a few straijds 

 pulled out at the sides and top gives the 

 idea. 



Lovers' knots of smilax make a pretty 

 frieze on a light background, a detail of 

 which is illustrated. The frieze is a de- 

 sign seldom used in our work, but very 

 effective along the upper walls or above 

 a wainscoting. It may be briefly de- 

 scribed as a panel set horizontally on a 

 wall. 



However, a step too far in mimicry 

 will carry an incautious worker into the 

 domains of the ridiculous. Similar indis- 

 cretions have led to attempts at reproduc- 

 ing animal life. It is no wonder sensible 

 people laugh at those florists who send 

 out lambs, elks, etc., where the custom- 

 er's taste is not the one to blame. It 

 must always be remembered — perhaps 

 with many of us first learned — that our 

 designs are not ultimate in their pur- 

 pose; that they are merely suggestive, 

 and ^vhen we have reminded the onlook- 

 ers of green pastures and shady nooks. 

 We have aeeomplislied our highest pur- 

 pose. Gertrude Blair. 



ROSES. 



Seasonable Treatment. 



The general care of tlu' houses dur- 

 ing the dark months will entail more 

 critical and accurate judgment in all 

 its details, as any error or carelessness 

 in the a|iplication of feediug material, 

 air, heat, or water will ne certain to 

 liring trouble. This being the season 

 wheu all vegetable life calls for a rest, 

 roses will, under the most favorable 

 conditions, have a tendency in that di- 

 rection. This tendency it is the t<".sk 

 or the grower to overcome by bringing 

 all his knowledge and skill to his as- 

 sistance. 



By a course of gentle stiuuilation and 

 feeding he can keep his ])lauts continu- 

 ally on the move, though at a much 

 slower rate than during the jireeeding 

 months. Owing to this sluggishness \\io 

 jilants riMpiire much less food and as 



canes and large buds. When the mulch 

 is partly exhausted an application of 

 nmnure water once a week will also 

 greatly strengthen them. It is better 

 not to use liquid manure when the 

 crops are ready to cut, as this is apt to 

 destroy their keeping qualities. A gen- 

 erous sprinkling of air-slaked lime 

 once or twice during the time they are 

 making wood will helji to give stiffness 

 to the stem and to the necks of the 

 buds. Soils which are deficient in c"' 

 careous matter are prone to produce 

 weak necks if unassisted during the 

 dark days. 



Color is another matter which must 

 be looked after. Too much rich feed- 

 ing will, as a rule, detract from the 

 brilliancy, especially in pinks, and has 

 to be carefully guarded against. A 

 sprinkling of wood ashes once or twice 

 a month will help to retain the coloring 

 and even intensify it. Overcharging 

 the air with the fumes of either tobacco 

 or sulphur will also bleach the color of 

 pinks, and to obviate this light and 

 periodic fumigations should be prac- 

 ticed rather than wait until compelled 

 to adopt radical measures to effect the 

 purpose. 



The benches should be carefully ex- 

 amined previous to wate'ring, especial I \- 

 after mulch has been applied, as the 

 mulch may be quite wet while the soil 

 in the bench may be bone dry. A criti- 

 cal examination will also reveal some 



Church Decoration by Poole & Purllant, Bellefontaine, O. 



evaporation i5 also at a minimum the 

 supply of water will have to be more 

 carefully apportioned. 



A repetition of a few general rules 

 for safely conducting the houses dur- 

 inqf this period, with some hints on the 

 methods of their application, may be of 

 some benefit to the less exnerienced. 



For stock which is in a healthy and 

 vigorous condition, a light mulch of a 

 rich nature should be applied every six 

 weeks. This will help to develop strong 



spots which are drier than others. 

 These ought to be gone. carefully over 

 previous to the general watering, so 

 that the soil may all be equally wet. 

 Keep the soil at the bottom of the 

 bench from ever becoming dry. Keep 

 a sharp lookout for red spider, and 

 whenever it niiiie^rs rse.tj'e syringe on 

 that spot at once to Keep jt from 

 spreading. If this is strictly attended 

 to we do not need to use a great deal 

 of water to keep; it in subjection. 



