JAPANESE FLOWER ARRANGEMENT 



better. It is often difficult to get a forked 

 stick the proper size. It will either be 

 too large or too small. Whereas the first 

 kubari can be cut to fit the flowers you in- 

 tend to pass through it and will require no 

 wedges to fill up the unoccupied opening at 

 the back. These wedges, which the beginner 

 often finds necessary to keep his flowers firm 

 in the kubari, are not desirable, as they are 

 untidy and detract from the all-in-one parent- 

 stalk appearance. 



If you have no suitable wood at hand from 

 which to make a support, use the ends of 

 the branches or flowers you are arranging, 

 crossed as shown in Fig 5. This is not 

 considered desirable and is used only in an 

 emergency. 



These stick supports are used for all flowers 

 and plants placed in high vases, but for 

 water-growing flowers in low receptacles the 

 lead rings and metal holders are used in 

 the ways described later. 



148] 



