194 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



PLANTS FOR TABLE DECORATION. 



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HE first essential to plants for this use is perfect cleanliness and 

 freedom from yellow leaves: given this condition and any 

 plant in bloom or out is better than none at all. If the pot is 

 not ornamental, hide it in some way. I attended a banquet 

 recently and on a table was a pot of beautiful white hyacinths, 

 but a quiet investigation proved the pot to be an old tin can 

 wrapped in a sheet of snow white cotton batting, banded down 

 with white ribbon to imitate hoops. Tissue paper can be 

 crimped by drawing through the hands and then arranged in 

 various ways to cover an unsightly pot or can. There are many easy and inex- 

 pensive ways of making substitutes for the beautiful jardinieres which are always 

 ready, but which all do not happen to have. 



One nice way of growing plants for the table is in the low round flaring 

 hanging baskets. When these are placed on the table and the drooping plants 

 arranged over the cloth, it makes a very effective arrangement. Remembering 

 that yellow is one of the best colors to light up, have among the plants some of 

 the beautiful Eclipse abutilon with its pointed leaves of brilliant yellow and 

 green. It is always as beautiful as blossoms, and when in bloom it is exquisite- 

 The small growing varieties of ferns if grown in low pots or on plates are among 

 our best decorative plants, the maidenhair being a general favorite. I have 

 spoken of plants in this connection because it is possible for anyone with even 

 a few plants to have them on the table every day, while comparatively few can 

 use cut flowers every day unless it may be during the summer season. 



The arrangement is simply a matter of taste, but care must be taken as to 

 colors, odors, etc., or the effect will be spoiled. Flowers with strong odors are 

 never desirable on a table. One pretty arrangement is to lay a square or oblong 

 piece of looking-glass on the cloth Trail smilax, ferns or other suitable foliage 

 around the edge and carelessly drop a spray or cluster of flowers on the glass. 

 This is, of course, for the centerpiece ; at each end, if the table is long, place a 

 small doily and arrange the same kind of foliage to trail off over the cloth in a 

 gracefully irregular way. Place the salt and pepper set, bonbon dish or other 

 small affairs on the doilies to give them the appearance of being there for use. 

 Asparagus tenuissimus is a plant which should be universally cultivated 

 for all kinds of decoration ; the foliage is like a fern in some ways, although it 

 is a climber like the smilax, and so fine and airy that it seems like a film, but 

 its best point is its durability, as it will keep fresh longer after being cut than 

 almost any other plant. — Farm and Home. 



