76 



THE FLORISTS MANUAL. 



a good growth, should always be on 

 hand, and so should baskets of this 

 useful plant. There is scarcely a plant 

 that so readily adapts itself to the 

 very unnatural conditions of a hanging 

 basket. Its great freedom of growth 

 and hardiness under neglect and abuse 

 may make it too common, but not just 

 yet. It is unnecessary to say that this 

 plant thrives under the most unfavorable 

 conditions sun or shade, wet or dry. I 

 have tried it in many places and find it 

 endures the gas, the wild exaggerations, 

 the anecdotes and classical quotations of 

 a suburban barber shop; and the aspi 

 distra is the only other plant that is 

 known to have lived through that ordeal. 

 The Ficus elastica has been tried in 

 tonsorial environments, but says: &quot;I 

 have got some credit as a stretcher, but 

 that last yarn kills me.&quot; 



Nephrolepis. 



Most of our ornamental ferns are too 

 tender for decorative purposes except 



est harm from an occasional trip to a 

 party or ballroom. It is in fact a first- 

 class house plant, so it must be valuable 

 as a decorator. And again, although 

 the Boston variety is by no means super 

 seded by anything we have as a variety, 

 the useful Scottii, the glorious Piersoni 

 and the still more graceful Piersoni 

 Elegantissima for a place where a 

 medium size plant is wanted are most 

 exquisite. 



Flowering Plants. 



Unless you are well paid for the deco 

 ration you cannot afford to loan many 

 flowering plants. For a church decora 

 tion we are never asked, but for a 

 private function we have to, and must 

 make out our bill or estimate accord 

 ingly. 



Beginning in the fall the chrysanthe 

 mums are most in favor. Groups of 

 yellow or pink or white varieties are 

 often called for. However good the 

 care given these plants they are shaky 



Deutzia Gracilis Trimmed with Ribbon. 



that splendid genus, the nephrolepis. 

 N. tuberosa is now superseded for in 

 door use by N. exaltata and Bostonien- 

 sis. The latter is one of the greatest 

 acquisitions that we have had for decades. 

 Whether in a mass or a large specimen, 

 or in a large hanging basket, it is most 

 ornamental, and receives not the slight- 



after a night in a room where there has 

 been a strong glare of gas and a crowd 

 of people. 



Here will be a good place to mention 

 that the cause of carnations (and per 

 haps other flowers) closing up in one 

 night in a room or hall that has been 

 crowded with people is the fact that 



there has been such a crowd of people. 

 We have noticed this in both large and 

 small rooms, and it was also noticed in 

 one of the plant houses at Sehenley 

 Park in Pittsburg, where many thou 

 sands of people passed through in one 

 day. The carnations collapsed, other 

 flowers did not. But if it has this effect 

 on carnations the breath of the multi 

 tude in one room can t be good for any 

 flowers. And as a rule when a plant 

 goes to a decoration we expect it to 

 return much the worse for wear. 



Azaleas, from December to May, are 

 the finest of our decorative plants, and 

 after a few days for recuperation are 

 again of service. 



At the holidays the poinsettia is with 

 us a leading article and is now closely 

 associated with Christmas. They droop 

 quickly if they receive anything like a 

 chill. 



From November on the Liliums Har- 

 risii and longiflorum are always in de 

 mand. 



Spiraea wilts worse than any other 

 plant, and should receive an extra soak 

 ing of water before going out. 



Plants of lilac, deutzia, Ghent azalea 

 and cytisus are used largely in the late 

 winter and spring months. 



Whole flats of tulips, narcissi and 

 hyacinths are often used, with ribbons 

 to match the colors of the flowers. There 

 is no variety of tulip so fine for decorat 

 ing, either in pans or flats, as the double 

 Murillo, almost pure white when first 

 opening, but assuming on its velvety 

 petals the finest shade of blush pink,, 

 and so large. 



Conclusion. 



I can t be expected to exhaust the 

 full list of the many plants, both foliage- 

 and flowering, that are useful in decorat 

 ing. There are few plants but what 

 have a distinct beauty if well grown.. 

 And you will have many tastes and- 

 many grades of purses to accommodate. 



No plants should go to a decoration* 

 unless they are clean and in good order.. 

 No dirty pots should ever go, never 

 mind whether they are to be hidden or 

 not. It s enough to turn the hostess 

 against you when she sees them enter 

 her door. 



One very important thing is this: All 

 plants that are taken out and expected 

 to keep their heads up and look well 

 all the afternoon and evening should 

 be well watered an hour Or two before 

 they are packed for their dress parade, 

 which the entertainment is to them. 



We find it unwise to mix up the 

 palms and dracaenas that we use for 

 decorations with the stock that is kept 

 for sale. However careful you are some- 

 little marring will be sure to occur, and 

 if you are not careful your whole col 

 lection, perhaps a fine one to look at in 

 the aggregate, will be hurt, and when- 

 you want a perfect kentia, green to 

 the very tips , you won t find it among 

 those that have been out visiting. 



Let the line be drawn between those 

 you loan and those you want to sell, and 

 if you do much decorating you will want 

 every summer a good house cleaning.. 



