The Weekly Florists' Review, 



747 



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: 



THE RETAIL 



| ^^^^ FLORIST, 



SCREENS AND THEIR TREAT- 

 MENT. 



Having frei ntly found one's -It' 



iasatisfied with the setting f,,r m decora- 

 on which the usual order of things pre- 

 snts, it is necessary for the decorator 



ml; 



rkgr.mn.t. 



Ne must get behind things. It is often 

 lecessarj to spend two-thirds of the 



i and materia] in producing a good 



taclcground. With the proper setting 

 ■wry leaf, flower ami spray maj !"■ 

 nade to stand out in relief. 



The mosl practical decorative back- 

 grounds are to lie found in the use of 

 >anels ami screens. Screens hide a multi- 

 ude of such things as unsightly views of 

 ild grates, walls or doorways. A 



iber of screen frames ready for such 



imergencies should be found among our 

 iccessories. As many kin. Is of material 



semi-transparent effect is better. When 

 covering is to lie retained, a plain (not 

 figured i goods should be used. 



And now for some of the uses of a 

 low screen, as is shown in the first il- 

 lustration. Instead of attempting to 

 lill in a grate with plants— for it really 



tnree sections 

 i is made by a 



first section ; -- 



tracery of wood ferns. The third section 

 is covered with green burlap, on which 

 is a design of goldenrod ami asters. 

 Sheel moss also makes a very good cov- 

 ering for a screen. The wire frame ami 

 feet cit the screen are bronzed. ()ut on 

 the hearth in front of the screen is 

 where the 1 plants should lie grouped, if 

 USI d at all. so far lich.w the eye line. 



Another treatment for such a screen 

 would l.e tu provide a background of 

 burlap upon which is spread a design of 

 autumn leaves ami branches. Oak leaves 

 and sumac may lie used effectively here. 

 Tn ml, l tu the eolor effect a group of 

 auratum lilies maj l"- attached in a 

 bamboo pocket. 



Before studying the design of the smi- 

 lax screen, let ns consider fur a little 

 how to prepare the smilax for this kind 

 of work. Smilax as it is cut in solid 

 strings is too heavy for any decorative 

 effect, except I'm- draping in large, high- 

 eeilinged rooms. The strings should lie 

 separated to make it soft and light ami 

 graceful. The effect is nut only better, 

 but so much more can he accomplished 

 with the material in hand. To he sure, 



it takes time, as does everything else 

 worth doing. The string, as it hangs 

 separated, all except a knot, makes a 

 pretty design unit for the corner of a 

 table, a mirror or picture frame, etc 



There is another niisshm, though it i- 

 ignoble, for separated smilax. In cuit- 



decorator will he in sole possession of 



the fort. 



Well, to resume, the heavy string sn 

 fit into the screen frame 



■d wi 



Seasonable Hints. 



stock will be greatly increased during 



the next few weeks. Mulching. In I f 



am use in helping the early winter ami 



holiday crops, will have to be applied 



- While speaking of mulching, 1 



have i' I it profitable t., give 



face of the suil a sprinkling of u I 



ashes before applying the mulch. This 

 lielps I,, stiffen the stems ami will most 



,i i i< give bet ter , olor to the petals. 



Our Canadian brethren are mere liberal 

 in the use of this material than we are, 



and their hi s have long been noted 



fur their intensity of color. If the soil 

 is deficient of calcareous matter, and most 

 of niir -mis are r rose growing pur- 

 poses, a generous sprinkling of air-slake. I 

 lime would als.i greatly benefit them dur- 



It should be remembered not to use 

 In. ne ami lime in combination, as this 

 will release more ammonia than the rose 

 can use, so it is not safe to use l.i.ne mi 



lime. I benches for at leasl - wet k, oj 



until the strength of the lime is ,hssi 

 pated. 



Where plants are in g 1 health ami 



vigor there will he a generous erop ..t' 

 lateral wood to look after. This should 

 be removed while yet young ami soft ami 

 m.t he allowed t.i remain till the growths 

 are so hard as to require a knife for 



Screen, one Section Covered with Plain Burlap Background. 



I t the screen re.|llire.l The ii-e ,,I 



three more strings similarly treated, this 

 time keeping the heavier portions at the 

 side, as before the heavier pari was at 



the top. 



'I'he ha.-k of a piai organ may 



I..- treated like a screen ami used as a 

 Background for a wedding party. A sat- 

 isfaction decoration of this kind was ar- 

 ia i ged las! .lime. The instrument was 

 placed across the cornei of the room, 

 back to view, and served a- a starting 

 point for long sprays of Weigela rosea, 

 smilax ami Bridesmaid roses, until from 

 the ceiling to the floor was stretched 

 a delicate partition .if pink, white and 

 gr< .a. the wedding march stealing from 

 its perfumed depths. 



i ,i i: i in in: Blair. 



their removal, using the sustenance which 

 should feed ami develop the bud ami 

 destroying the gracefulness of the stem. 

 This should he attended to a, least twice 

 a week. 



'hying also will require frequent atten 

 thin, s.i that the stems may lie straight 

 ami ,l,, eredil to the bud, as it counts for 



little with the buyer, however fine the 

 bud may be if the stem is weak or crooked. 

 So "e should direct our work ami skill 

 tu produce a line stem with a shapely. 



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