288 



WIND W G A RDENIXQ 



The Parisian fleurixtcs can take a flower with less than half an inch of footstalk 

 and make it very effective. The smallest piece of well soaked cotton wool is 

 pressed around the stem, and a small piece of wire is wound about it to keep the 

 wool close, and it is twisted closely together for a stem ; a fresh green leaf can 



be rolled over the wool to prevent its being ob- 

 served. Every one knows how often a lovely 

 flower will snap from the stem and be seemingly 

 useless, but with a bit of fine wire pierced through 

 the calyx a stem is provkled which will answer 

 all the purpose ; then cotton wool thoroughly 

 wetted can be wound tightly over it. White 

 Camellias are ruined if the slightest moisture 

 touches the petals, and the best way to mount the 

 flower is to moisten a piece of white cotton wool 

 about the size of half a dollar, then lay it on a 

 piece the size of the flower itself, which should 

 then be lifted up ; two ends of a loop of wire having 

 been passed through the centre of the wool before laying it under the flower, lift 

 u|> the loop of wire, and slip it between the leaflets or points of the thickest 

 calyx and the flower, drawing it gently around it ; then reverse the flower, and 

 pass the wire through the wool twisting it around a cluster of leaves of the 

 Camellia, and concealing the wool with them. With pink flowers use pink wool, 

 Melted isinglass is often used to make the flower adhere closely to the wool ; this 

 helps to keep the flower from falling, and also moistens it. Isinglass is better in 

 preparing flowers than gum or mucilage of any kind, because it is not so sticky, 

 and is of a pure white tint. A crown or wreath of Camellias can be prepared in 

 this manner, that will last for four or five days in great perfection ; even if the 

 flowers drop their petals the wool retains enough of them to keep up the appear- 

 ance of flowers. 



Fig. 37. Bouquet 



Pig. 38. A Cornucopia of Flowers. 



To mount Geraniums, Azaleaj, etc., the stems should be cut off within an inch 

 of the cluster or single flower, and a drop of isinglass be given inside of the petals, 

 wetted wool iiml the wire should be arranged as described for Camellias 



