THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 9y 



FLOWERS FOE WINTER BOUQUETS. 



jELE best flowers for winter bouquets are undoubtedly 

 tbose of the stove and greenhouse, bright with colour, 

 fresh with fragrance, and with the soft and subtle 

 texture of active life in them. Genuine winter flowers 

 are a privilege of the few ; for the many who cannot 

 obtain them, dried grasses and everlasting flowers are of some 

 service, and may be turned to wonderful account in the prepa- 

 ration of elegant bouquets. We must not waste space in eulogy, 

 but assume that flowers and grasses are required for winter bou- 

 quets, and then proceed to the practical business of producing 

 them. * D 



First, as to the cultivation. All the annual sorts, both of ever- 

 lasting flowers and grasses, are best grown by sowing the seeds in 

 light rich soil in March or April, and treating them just the same 

 way as asters ; that is, in brief, insuring strong plants by the middle 

 of May, and then planting them out. But if this is not convenient, 

 they may all be sown on a rich light sunny border, in the early 

 part of April. Every patch should be tallied, and a bit of seed of 

 every sort kept in reserve. About the middle of May sow again any 

 that have not, by that time, come up. By this plan you will be 

 likely to secure all the sorts on which you speculate. 



As for greenhouse everlastings, they require good cultivation. 

 As tbe best of these is the Aphelexis, a practical word on that may 

 be useful. It is a difficult plant to grow, too much or too little 

 water being pretty certain death to it. The soil should be good 

 turfy peat, and plenty of silver sand. The pots should be prepared 

 with great care to insure perfect drainage. The plants must be 

 potted firm, and with the collar slightly above the surface. 

 Plenty of light and air are essential. The beautiful Phcenocorua 

 requires similar treatment. As for the greenhouse Statices, they 

 require a soil half loam and half peat, and a warmer and closer 

 part of the house will suit them than the two plants first mentioned 

 require. 



Next, as to gathering the flowers. Take them in all possible 

 Btages ; but by fur the largest proportion should be young and 

 scarcely fully expanded, as they are sure to expand in the process 

 of drying. To dry them, lay them on papers in an airy warm 

 place, saft from dust, and store them when dry in dry closets or 

 drawers, whero dust is as nearly as possible unknown. The 

 grasses may be dried by simply laying them between folds of 

 blotting-paper, or placing them between the pages of large, heavy 

 books. .Remember, " practice makes perfect : " the beginner is sure 

 to spoil a few ; never mind, there will be many good ones to make 

 amends. 



As to mounting, the grasses must be used in their natural 

 state ; but it is best to mount the flowers on wires. This is a nice 

 proceeding; but ladies generally acquire the art in haste. The 

 finest steel wire is the best adapted to the purpose, and it is 



April. 



