COXSTKUCTION OF BOUQUETS, ETC. 



183 



bouquets, made in the fashion of the confectioner's stiff 

 pyramids of maccaronies, are wretched decorations, 

 and very discreditable to all connected with them Bet- 

 ter, a thousand times, to have half the quantity of flowers 

 decently arranged. 



Baskets of flowers for decorating parlor tables, man- 

 tels, &c., ought to be somewhat in keeping with their 

 surroundings ; a rough bouquet, adapted to grace a rus- 

 tic table at a picnic, would not be in as good taste here 

 as something finer and more neatly put together. Oval 

 and round are the only permissible forms for flower 



Fig. 54. BASKET OF FLOWEBS. 



baskets ; the flowers ought also to be rounding in form, 

 yet not too much so. We give an illustration, (fig. 54,) 

 as the easiest method of conveying our idea of the 

 best outline. The basket shown here is also one of 

 the best, but whether high or low, the open round or 

 oval basket is very effective. Handled baskets we deem 

 out of place as parlor ornaments, having doubtless been 

 originally designed to carry ; the handle invariably inter- 

 feres with the general effect, and can only be tolerated 



