PLANTS FOR THE DINING TABLE. 



/y'Yfs^O one having the attention 

 called to the matter for the 

 first time it is surprising to 

 note how surely fashion rules 

 even among flowers. The use of palms 

 and decorative plants of that order upon 

 every occasion of social importance has 

 opened a new field for the florist. If he 

 be what Mr. Peter Barr refers to as a 

 " bread and cheese " grower, rather than 

 one cultivating plants for love of their 

 rareness and charm, he fills his house 

 with such specimens as my lady loves 

 to see adorning her dwelling. She 

 usually forgets to water, or neglects to 

 give proper sun or shade, and in a sea- 

 son or two is back at the florist's door 

 seeking fresh subjects for her jardin- 

 ieres ; all to the advantage of the grower 

 and the attractiveness of the parlors, if 

 not to that deep and abiding love of 

 flowers that holds sway in some hearts. 

 A floral fad making for trade in the 

 same direction is the growing custom of 

 employing a jardiniere of low plants as 

 a centre piece for the dining table. 

 Whereas madame used to purchase cut 

 flowers and feel her table not fitly 

 adorned for the social function or ex- 

 pected guest unless some sort of floral 

 piece, however simple, held the centre 

 of attraction amid her silver and china, 

 she now realizes the aggregating ex- 

 travagance of such outlay, and feels her- 

 self sagacious and economical when she 

 buys something more durable than the 

 perishable blossoms. Best of all, just 

 now, she likes a low jardiniere having 

 an outside holder of silver and stocked 

 with dainty ferns. Such a centre piece 

 can be kept, with a minimum of care, in 

 fair condition for three or four months. 

 At the end of its presentableness it 

 comes back to the florist for fresh filling. 

 Madame wants something equally pretty 



with the first, but would like it as differ- 

 ent as may be. It is in meeting this 

 demand for suitable table plants that 

 the florist's best wits will be likely to 

 bring him promptest compensation. 

 The plants would preferably not be tall, 

 unless of delicate texture ; anything 

 being an annoyance, particularly to men, 

 and always a menace to conversation, 

 that obtrudes itself to intercept the eye 

 glances of those about the table. Par- 

 ticularly the head of the house and 

 Madame, being seated opposite each 

 other, dislike a barrier to those eye 

 messages frequently so useful to the 

 administration of domestic affairs. Who 

 knows what nice decisions of matters of 

 church, state or kitchen, even a Cocos- 

 Weddeliana might be guilty of turning 

 away. 



Of ferns, Adiantum and Pteris at once 

 suggest themselves as well adapted to 

 table use, either in collections or as 

 single specimens. The woman who has 

 a flourishing Adiantum, and a stand of 

 Lycopodium and low ferns, may give 

 each its days of retirement in the win- 

 dow, and with occasional substitution of 

 flowers or some blossoming plant, keep 

 up a continual variety. For no matter 

 how lovely a thing is, an American is 

 wearied by sameness. This is the great- 

 est fault to be urged against the palms, 

 dracsenas and various stiff leaved tropi- 

 cal plants. 



For grace and beauty of effect nothing 

 can surpass a simple basket as a recep- 

 tacle for plants. There must be pro- 

 vision for removal, for watering, and for 

 complete protection of the table cover. 

 The covers of the plant holder should 

 always be subdued in tone. Soft olives 

 and yellows can never offend the eye, 

 but reds and blues are usually an 

 abomination. Ferns and small decora- 

 io8 



