THE FLOWER GARDEN IN THE HOUSE. 229 



colour and form of each kind. Some proof of this may be seen 

 in the work of the best flower-painters. In the work of M. Fantin- 

 Latour, for example, his nosegays of many flowers, evidently bought 

 at some country market stand, are painted as well as his simple 

 subjects, but these last are far the best pictures. There is such 

 a wide range of plants, shrubs, and woodland and hedgerow 

 flowers, that we must not hesitate to depart from any general idea 

 if it tends to keep us from making the best of things in simple and 

 ready ways. 



Often the water and the water-side will give us fine things for the 

 house, and the new Water-Lilies of rare distinction if cut in the 



freshly expanded state will keep very well for 



Water-Lilies for some days and give us quite a new order of 



the house. beauty. For them we want bold and simple 



basins, as, if we can put some of their handsome 

 leaves in with them, the effect is all the better. Although very 

 fine in the open water, where they do admirably, the effect of 

 the flower near at hand in the house is quite different and very 

 beautiful, and as these plants increase their value as cut flowers for 

 the house will be found to be great. There are also plants of the 

 water-side which may help with foliage or flower ; one of the best 

 being the Forget-me-not, which flowers so well in the house, and the 

 great Buttercup. 



Many as are the flowers of the open air excellent for house, 

 the leaves of the open air tree or shrub or plant are hardly of 



less use for the same end': notably the foliage 

 Leaves. of evergreen shrubs in warm and sea coast 



districts, from evergreen Magnolia, Poet's Laurel, 

 Cypress, Juniper and Thuja, Cherry Laurel, and Bamboo; even 

 in the coldest districts we have the evergreen Barberry, and more 

 than fifty forms of the best of all evergreen climbers, the Ivy, 

 and the Holly with its scarlet, yellow, or orange berries. The trees 

 in autumn give us leaves rich in colour Maple, Medlar, Mespilus, 

 Parrotia, Tulip-tree, and many others. The shrubs and climbers, 

 too, help Bramble,. Wild Roses, Water Elder (Viburnum), Common 

 Barberry, with its graceful rain of red berries ; Vines in many forms ; 

 hardy flowers, too, help with Acanthus, Alexandrian Laurel, 

 Solomon's Seal, Iris, Plantain Lily. Rock plants are rich in good 

 leaves : Cyclamen, Heuchera, Christmas and Lenten Roses, the large 

 Indian Rockfoils and the Barrenworts ; and then there are the 

 hardy Ferns of our own country and Europe, and also those of North 

 America as hardy as our own. 



A great help in a house is a handy water supply in a little room, 

 near the flower garden or usual entrance for flowers, where vessels 



