100 THE CARXATION MANUAL. 



This gives size to the blooms, and allows room 

 for other petals to shoAv their qualities. 



The second row of petals should be laid over 

 the edges of the two underneath, so as to cover 

 their divisions — the third row over them in like 

 manner, till the centre of the flower is reached. 

 This may appear very formal work on paper, but it 

 is not so with the ever-varying grace, and play, and 

 variety of the petals to take off the stiffness. Of 

 course, a flower may be pulled about and over- 

 dressed, as by straining petals to gain apparent size, 

 but by simply arranging the petals so that none are 

 lost siofht of, no violence is done to Nature. 



AVhere masses of colour lie much more heavily 

 on one side of the flower than the other, some 

 petals may be carefully transposed, and the colours 

 thus more effectively distributed over the flower. 



The last delicate touch is to arrange three or 

 four good petals to lie with easy grace over the 

 centre of the flower. 



This requires care and some practice, and, like 

 all things done with grace and ease, looks much 

 easier to do than it really is. Done with a master's 

 touch and eye, it has not the slightest appearance 

 of force and artificiality. These three or so top 

 petals will seem to have gently and gTacefidly laid 

 themselves in natural repose in the position left for 

 them, and no doubt give that fulness and smooth 

 perfection to the flower, which it cannot display 



