SWEET PEA IN TABLE DECORATION 113 



that a child can arrange with the greatest facility, and 

 with lightness, for effect. The taller stands usually 

 three are, of course, arranged on the centre of the table, 

 with four small pieces, one at each corner, and sometimes 

 an additional one on either side of the central epergne. 

 Two or three flowers in each of the metal tubes suffice 

 to make a really attractive display. At the National Sweet 

 Pea Shows these stands are used by the majority of the 

 exhibitors, and a very charming effect is created by their 

 use. They have this great advantage, that they are 

 practically unbreakable. They can also be re-silvered 

 from time to time as they get dowdy. Unfortunately, 

 the tubes hold very little water, in consequence of which 

 they need to be refilled each day, if the flowers are to 

 be maintained in a fresh condition. 



While we appreciate the undoubted value of these 

 rustic stands, we would prefer to see some variations 

 from those at present in use. They are a great advance 

 on the older glass epergnes, etc., but so few of the present- 

 day exhibitors succeed in covering up the metal tubes, 

 which detract from an otherwise artistic effect, and there 

 is also an abruptness in the arrangement of the flowers 

 near the base. We cannot get the flowers down low 

 enough. 



Another change is now in course of development. 

 The tall epergnes are less popular than they used to be, 

 because they are so dressed that a person on one side of 

 the dining-table could not see his friend vis-b-vis without 

 craning his neck, to his near neighbour's inconvenience. 

 From personal observation, the lower dressing of the 

 stands seems to be now finding favour, and it is easy to 

 understand the reason for this, because conversation may 

 be carried on across the table without the floral decora- 

 tions inconveniently obtruding. Bowls for the centre 

 and ends of the table, using a large one for the centre 

 and two smaller ones of equal size for the ends, with 

 H 



