486 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



the wealth of blossoms in spring, may be much enjoyed for decora- 

 tion by those who live near them. Display them in the free, open 

 manner in which they grow. This will not admit of bunching them 

 and tying tightly with a string, nor often of placing a variety of kinds 

 in one bouquet. Nasturtiums are beautiful and so are sweet peas, 

 but together in the same vase their form and color are not satisfying. 

 Garlands of flowers and set pieces are conventional forms not often 

 used, and are superseded by the simplicity of single colors and by 

 grouping blossoms of but one kind. Perhaps we may believe that 

 every flower has a message which should not be interrupted by the 

 too close presence of other flowers, each with its own message. 



The attractiveness of flowers in decoration is governed to a large 

 extent by the vase in which they are placed, and by other objects 

 near them. The vase therefore has so much to do with the com- 

 pleting of the flower picture that it should not be selected without 

 considering the use to which it is to be placed, the size of the flowers, 

 the length of stem, the color. Neither should the vase be the central 

 figure and attract more attention than the flowers. 



A clear glass tumbler of graceful shape is often more appropriate 

 for flowers than an expensive vase with excrescences and bright rival- 

 ing colors on its face. A vase that can stand alone, with graceful 

 form that does not interfere with its use, and colored to harmonize 

 with flowers, is a suitable one for these treasures in decoration, no 

 matter how little it costs.' A plain tall celery dish is better than a 

 gilded gewgaw flashy vase. 



It is better to have a few good plants than many indifferent ones. 

 They should not be scattered about the house, especially not on the 

 floor where they are likely to be in the way. A neat and compact 

 window-box adds a touch of color and cheer to the living-room and 

 kitchen and also makes the house attractive to the passer-by. (Cor- 

 nell F. R. C., B. 2.) 



Directions for Making Window Gardens. Procure a 3 or 4 

 inch pot for each lot of seed to be planted and some rich, sandy soil 

 from the florist's or from the garden. Place over the hole in the 

 bottom of the pot a small piece of broken crockery, the concave side 

 down, and fill the pot to within one-fourth inch of the top with soil, 

 gently pressing this down with the bottom of another pot so as to 

 make the surface perfectly smooth and level, though not enough to 

 make it hard. Large seeds like those of the nasturtium should 

 simply be pressed into the soil about one-half inch deep and the 

 soil drawn together over them with the thumb and finger. Those 

 like the candytuft and snapdragon should be evenly spread over the 

 surface and covered about one-eighth of an inch deep with fine soil 

 carefully sprinkled over the surface so as to cover them evenly. The 

 very small seeds should be thoroughly mixed with ten times their 

 bulk of dry soil, and then the mixture scattered as evenly as possible 

 over the surface in the pot. Cover the seed lightly, using not more 

 than three or four times as much fine dry earth as was mixed with 

 the seed; sprinkle it over the surface as evenly as possible. In all 

 cases, after planting the seed the surface of the soil should be made 



