EOSES FOE DECOEATIONS. 143 



//they flag-, provided the stalks are cut and the blooms 

 taken out and allowed to rest in water floating up to 

 the head, they soon recover. At the best the life of 

 a Rose is but short when cut, and for this reason the 

 would-be buyer hesitates to make a purchase; but the 

 grower knows what is wanted, and only the opening 

 bud or ihalf-developed Rose goes to market, and then 

 of those varieties that last best. 



We must leave all funeral designs, emblems 6t 

 peace and the like out of our chapter, and before 

 closing the same add a few words on the Bouquet, 

 which although carried at functions such as weddings 

 and receptions, yet, as a rule, afterwards occupies a 

 prominent position in water as a decoration to a room. 

 When we think of the early Victorian bouquet, made 

 in close cauliflower shape, surrounded with its white 

 paper frill, we sigh for poor Roses wedged in with 

 other flowers, throttled and decked out like a ham 

 bone. But it was the spirit of the age, for even ladies 

 tight-laced, wore crinolines, frills and sun bonnets. 

 The style of clothing reflected itself in the bouquet; 

 indeed, a pretty face in a sun bonnet will for ever 

 remind me of the Victorian bouquet and its contem- 

 porary buttonhole. The age gradually became less 

 prim. Queen Rosa smiled from the shower bouquet, 

 with its trails of smilax and fern : the blooms were 

 arranged in looser fashion, and bud and full-blown 

 flower took their place midst portions of natural 

 foliage. Then came the American innovation of ribbon, 

 and the bouquet was done up with trails of very nar- 

 row ribbons with flowers fastened on to the same. 

 This style was of short duration, and it soon gave way 

 to the sheaf which is -popular to-day. The sheaf of 

 Roses consists of long-stemmed flowers tied in ^ a 

 natural bunch with ribbons to match. The florist 

 sighs, but the Rose grower rejoices ; for his glorious 

 productions are displayed to their best advantage, and 

 as far as we can judge it will be many years before 

 there will be any great change. 



