CHAPTER XXV 



THE USE OF THE SWEET PEA IN 

 TABLE DECORATIONS 



OF the numerous beautiful flowers used in table decora- 

 tions throughout the country, we question whether 

 there is any subject that exceeds the beauty and useful- 

 ness of the Sweet Pea as we know it to-day. 



The Sweet Pea has always been a popular sub- 

 ject to use in this connection, but now that the 

 flowers have been so much improved, and their colours 

 are so charmingly diversified, the blooms are more 

 popular at the present period than they have ever been 

 before in the history of the flower. In endeavouring 

 to find a reason for their popularity in this respect, 

 several thoughts are suggested to us why the Sweet 

 Peas are so frequently met with in table decorations. 

 Grown to such perfection as they are to-day, the 

 blossoms being borne on long, stiff flower-stems, their 

 disposition, in the various utensils requisitioned for the 

 many forms of table decoration that now find favour, 

 becomes a matter of comparative ease. The individual 

 flowers too are so large and beautiful that, combined 

 with stout, erect flower-stalks, their artistic arrangement 

 assuming the colours are properly associated may be 

 effected quite easily. Quite the most interesting aspect 

 of Sweet Peas in table decorations is the beautiful 

 variation of both form and colour that may be re- 

 presented on the dinner-table in the course of a week. 

 It is quite unnecessary to use the blossoms more than 



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