74 Jflowe?' for Ornametii and l>ecoratio?i. 



Flowers for Ornament and Decoration. 



BY ANNE G. HALE. 



[CONTINUED.] 



A FINE figure for a niche, or a corner bracket, is a large vase filled with a tall 

 bouquet. Flower-stalks of gladioli are especially effective here; also branches 

 of lilies, or individual lilies of the larger sorts, together with panicles or spikes of 

 medium or more minute inflorescence ; such as canna, spirea, deutzia, delphinium, are 

 always desirable, while boughs of pendant blossoms — laburnum, acacia, dielytra, sal- 

 via, etc., and all papilionaceous flowers, whether drooping or erect, add much grace 

 to such collections. In filling the vase, it is well to select one elegant blossom or 

 cluster for the center, the remainder of the group diminishing gradually in size, the 

 stems also of slightly lessening length, so that the bouquet shall present a pyramidal 

 form. Fronds of the larger ferns, branches of slender lanceolate leaves, and long 

 ribbons of grass, particularly of the variegated sorts, with their plumy blossoms, are 

 the proper foliage. Long cuttings of convolvulus, tropeolum, and other blooming 

 vines (only one or two handsome branches, and those of the same plant), should fall 

 from among the group, over the edge of the vase, and wind carelessly around it, and 

 about its support, thus giving an air of lightness and ease to what would otherwise 

 appear stiff and formal. Stateliness is the idea to be conveyed by this grouping, 

 hence the vase must not be crowded. Only a few stalks, and not more than two or 

 three of a species, are required, while one splendid lily, peony, or cluster of roses, is 

 sufiicient for the center. A floral ornament of this sort is appropriate for the com- 

 munion table. The floral festooning, mentioned above, is suitable wreathing for any 

 part of a church, or its furniture. 



Floral wreaths, crosses, crowns, stars, are more satisfactory, if the verdure is first 

 an-anged, as directed, for the festooning, and the flowers afterward inserted. Perfo- 

 rated, or wire-netting, forms of almost any desirable shape, may be procured at the 

 florists; of these, a beautiful wreath, cross, etc., is quickly and easily prepared, the 

 forms being filled with damp moss, in and among which the stems of foliage and 

 flowers are inserted through the apertures. At the tin stores may be found- slender 

 tin pans, or troughs, of these shapes, painted green or brown ; they are intended for 

 holding water, in which the stems of flowei-s may be placed, and thus these floral 

 devices retain their beauty a long time. They are generally used for the decoration 

 of graves, but are not out of place upon the parlor table or the invalid's book-stand. 

 For all these designs, buds and half-blown flowers, of medium size, with a good 

 variety of the smaller sorts, of individual growth as well as of bracts, are needed; 

 and a large proportion of heavy greenery for the ground, with a little delicate and 

 lighter foliage for separating and relieving the flowers- 



The usual table embellishments, of the floral order, are generally wreaths sur- 

 rounding certain dishes, tall vases, or the high epergne with its broad bowl or vase- 

 like branches : these may be occupied by flowers, shedding fragrance and beauty over the 

 feast ; but they are frequently so densely grouped, and require so much space, as to in- 

 terfere seriously with the sociability of the company ; low, shallow dishes, filled with 

 short-stemmed blossoms, if they do not present so imposing an appearance, are far pre- 



