lins lu'on tlio admiration of all who linve seen it. It lias been occasionally -\vatore<l 

 with weak liquid nianuro water, which counteracts the t<;ndency of pot-bound plants, 

 and especially the Fuchsia, to produce small llowers. The one mentioned has flowers 

 as fine now as when in a youni; state. 



[Wo commend Mr. Sanukus' i)ractice. The Fuchsia is a valuable acquisition to tlie 

 winter green-house, when well flowered, as we saw some specimens in Mr. Katiiuoxe's 

 house last February. — En.] 



DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING BOUQUETS AND FLORAL ORNAMENTS. 



BY D. R. K., EOXBOEO, P.V. 



Ix fulfillment of the promise made to you, I proceed to oflfer a few practical directions, 

 intended principally for the amateur florist, for making bouquets and floral ornaments. 



But before commencing, allow me to make a few preliminary observations in regard 

 to the importance of adhering strictly to the laws and dictates of a cultivated and refined 

 taste in order to ensure success. And first I would remark that there is a prejudice 

 existing in the minds of many in regard to the arrangement of flowers in elaborate 

 designs and ornaments — a prejudice which makes no distinction between the manifest 

 absurdity of attempting to imitate in flowers objects which are entirely destitute of 

 either beauty or adaj^tability, such, for instance, as the monstrosities in the shape of 

 monuments, fountains, tables, &c., which yearly disgrace some of the horticultural exhi- 

 bitions in our large cities, and the forming of ornaments or designs natural and graceful 

 in conception, and elaborate and artistic in execution. How often do Ave hear from 

 such persons the remark that a bouquet formed of flowers culled at random, and put 

 together in the most careless manner, is far more pleasing than one of a more elaborate 

 character, and yet should one arranged with good taste, and a due regard to the har- 

 mony of colors, be exhibited, what exclamations of delight anil admiration would reward 

 the artist for his labor. To a person whose highest conception of a bouquet or floral 

 ornament does not exceed a bunch of Hollyhocks and Asparagus, with, perhaps, the 

 addition of a Pa3ony or two, the directions here given will appear useless and trifling ; 

 but when such an one witnesses the result he will perhaps change his opinion. 



With these few remarks I pass to the more practical part of my subject; and first 

 in order, are the requisite tools and materials. 



The tools required in making a bouquet are a flower-gatherer — which is a pair of 

 scissors that holds the flower tight after it is severed, and which can be obtained at any 

 of our horticultural warehouses — a shai-p penknife, and a good strong pair of ordinary 

 scissors. The materials for forming the frame-work of a bouquet, ai'c a good, strong, 

 straight stick, from twelve to eighteen inches long, according to the desired size or 

 height of the bouquet, observing to have it long enough to leave room to hold it in the 

 hand at the -lower extremity until the bouquet is completed, when the stick is to be cut 

 oflf even with the lower end of the bouquet; a handful of straight switches from trees 

 shrubs, of sufficient strength and stitfness to sustain the weight of a good sized flower 

 attached to their upper extremities, and about eight inches long ; also a small 



