THE FLOWER GARDEN IN THE HOUSE. 



227 



spring bloom under glass gives us quantities of this precious flower 

 for six months more when the outdoor supply is over. These are 

 among the best flowers for the dinner table as well as the house 

 generally, and on the dinner table the effect by artificial or by natural 

 light of one or two flowers of the season is often better than that 

 given by a variety of flowers. What is just said of the Carnation 

 applies to various noble groups of hardy flowers, such as the Tulip, 

 Narcissus, and Lily. 



Mexican Orange-flower. 



It is not only in vases we see the good of showing one flower or 

 group at a time ; a good result will often come through a single 

 spray or branch of a shrub. The Japanese have taught us to see 

 the beauty of form and line in a single twig or branch, with its 

 natural habit shown, apart from any beauty and form or colour 

 its flowers may have. This is important, in view of the many 

 shrubs that flower in our climate in spring, and of which if flower- 

 ing shoots are cut when in bud the flowers open slowly and 

 well in the house. They are best placed in Japanese bronze or 

 other opaque jars. The taller Japanese bronze jars with narrow 

 necks are very useful for these, and it is an excellent practice to 



