S8 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



dried by simply laying them between folds of blotting-paper, or 

 placing them between the pages of large heavy books. Remember 

 " practice makes perfect ;" the beginner is sure to spoil a few ; never 

 mind, there will be many good ones to make amends. 



As to mounting, the grasses must be used in their natural state ; 

 but it is best to mount the flowers on wires. This is a nice proceeding ; 

 but ladies generally acquire the art in haste. The finest steel wire is the 

 best adapted to the purpose, and it is attached to the flower at the 

 base, by merely thrusting it into the centre ; but the wire should 

 have a few twists to make a sort of base to catch the flower, or, as 

 I may say, for the base of the flower to rest on. As to modes of 

 grouping, on the preceding page is a figure of a wreath formed of 

 helichrysums and grasses, and filled in with green moss, the solid 

 foundation, or ring of the wreath being formed of the wires on which 

 the flowers are placed, twisted and twisted into a sort of rope, with 

 the moss thickly entangled between them. 



The best flowers for this purpose are the following : — 

 Helichrysums of all kinds ; more especially H. atrosanguineum 

 nanum, and H. Borcssorum rex. All are half hardy annuals, to be 

 raised on gentle heat, and planted out in May, or sown in the open 

 ground in April. As they are so useful, it w r ould be well to try all 

 the sorts the seedsmen can supply. 



Acroclinium roseum. Sow in pots and pans in April, and place 

 in cold frame, or sow in open border and risk it. 



Bhodanthe JUanglesi, JR. atrosanguineum, It. maculata, B. major. 

 All half hardy annuals. 



Selipterum Sandfordi and H. eorymliferum require careful cul- 

 ture. Sow, if possible, in February, and treat as perilla or lobelia. 

 These are the least likely to succeed if sown in the open border in 

 this country. They are so beautiful that they well repay a little 

 extra care. 



Bolycohjmnia Stuarii. A quite hardy annual, but none the 

 worse for being pushed forward under glass. 



AmmoMuvi (datum, is a perennial, but may be treated as an 

 annual, as it is sure to be killed by a sharp frost. Treat it as half- 

 hardy. 



Waitzia corymlosa, W. grandiflora, fine half-hardy annuals ; but 

 of no use to beginners for winter wreaths. They must be started 

 early to make sure of a good bloom. 



Xeranthemum annuum, X. album, X. caryophillioides, and X. pur- 

 purea are fine hardy annuals, all of which may be sown in the open 

 ground in April, They are not the most desirable, as their colours 

 are apt to fade when dried, but this may be in some part prevented 

 by drying them quickly in the dark, and in a very dry w _ arm atmo- 

 sphere. Try them in an oven when the fire is nearly out. 



' As for Aphelexis, and Phcenocoma, and Statice, all the varieties 

 known are jrood. 



