THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 237 



worthy of a place in the choicest collection of stove plants ; but in 

 the foregoing selection all the various types are represented. 



The Marantas may be justly considered of lesser importance 

 than tlie Crotons and Dracaenas, and the additions of late years 

 have not been remarkable for great beauty. Those who are partial 

 to them may add Maranta hierogh/phica, M. 3Iackaijana, and M. 

 tiibispatlia. These, however, are not equal to M. rosea picta, M. 

 Veitchi, and other established kinds that could be mentioned. 



One of the best of variegated plants is Fandamis Veitchi. The 

 leaves are broad, and marked with longitudinal bands of pure 

 white ; it quite surpasses the well-known P. javanicus variecatua. 

 Paullhiia thalidrifoUa is really a gem, and may be popularly desig- 

 nated the "Maidenhair Tree," for the leaves are similar to the 

 beautiful Adiantum cuneatum. Indeed, neat bui'hy plants of the 

 Paullinia can hardly be distinguished from that beautiful fern at a 

 distance. It is exceedingly well adapted for the decoration of the 

 dinner-table, and the leaves, as they retain their freshness for a 

 considerable period, are most useful for bouquets and vases. 



It would be easy to extend this list ; but I have been careful to 

 include those only which I know from persoual observation to be 

 thoroughly distinct from older kinds, and are in every way decided 

 acquisitions. 



CUT ELOWEES FOR DINNER- TABLE DECORATIONS. 



BT A WOEKING GAEDENEE. 



[N the following remarks I intend to deal with decora- 

 tioDs of cut flowers for the dinner-table, aud not of 

 plants for the same purpose. I shall therefore confine 

 my remarks to the dressing up of those articles now 

 so much in use for the more effective display of cut 

 flowers by gaslight. 



In the first place, the epergnes or stands which have come into 

 use for this purpose are too stiff" and formal, taking them as a whole ; 

 and I cannot understand why the original form of Marsh's stands 

 should be so nearly copied by every exhibitor of these articles, for 

 surely they are open to improvement. That they must be some- 

 what similar I do not deny, and no doubt the objects which usually 

 surround them when on a dinner-table render it necessary that they 

 should be to a certain extent formal. But that is no reason why 

 a design originating in the mind of one individual should not be 

 departed from and rendered more acceptable, as we gain more 

 knowledge of the requirements of a new fat^hion. At all events, 

 my impression is that it should be so ; and I am sorry to say that I 

 do not think we have made that advance in the form aud making 

 up of dinner-table decorations that the subject merits. Leaving 

 the question of the shape and form of these articles to be discussed 

 by those whom it more intimately concerns, let me proceed at once 



August. 



