162 



PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



then filled with sawdust, rounding above, damped and cov- 

 ered with wet moss ; a border of arbor-vitae, bouquet, or 

 other greens is set around, to support the overhanging flow- 

 ers. The flowers, stemmed on pieces of match stick, (fig. 

 45,) or twigs, are now inserted according to the taste of the 

 worker, with moss packed between them as the work 

 proceeds. Baskets thus filled and sprinkled with water 

 keep well, but the more common method is to insert bou- 

 quet green (Lycopodium) over the 

 whole surface, and arrange the 

 flowers therein without any moss 

 packing. Wreaths are commonly 

 made on a stout wire, which has 

 a straw of matting wound to it, to 

 enable the thread to hold ; a back- 

 ing of green is laid for the flowers 

 .as the work proceeds. Both green 

 and flowers must be wound on with 

 points projecting to each side, the 

 stems crossing like the letter X. 

 If laid straight along, the flowers 

 are huddled together, and the ar- 

 rangement seems thick backed 

 and clumsy. When the desired 

 length is attained the ends are 

 firmly tied, and flowers and green together are pressed 

 round on the wire, and by this means turned to face as 

 required ; a bow of white silk bonnet string finishes the 

 wreath. Crosses are made on two pieces of thin wood ; 

 the three upper points being made, the cross-stick is then 

 tacked and tied in its place, the centre filled, and so 

 wound to the bottom. Like wreaths, these may be finish- 

 ed with or without a bow of ribbon. Wire frames have 

 to a great extent superseded these old methods of 

 winding flowers to sticks and wires. These are made 

 from half to three quarters of an inch in depth that is, 



Fig. 45. 



