27th February, A. D. 1897. 



ESSAY 



BY 



HENRY K. BAILEY, North Scituate. 

 Theme: — Plant Beauty. 



Plant beaut}' is of two sorts, beauty of color and beauty of forui. 

 In some plants, like the calla, beauty of form predominates; in 

 others, like the peony, beauty of color ; in still others, like the gladi- 

 olus, the lines of stalk, flower and bud are as noticeably lovely as 

 their colors. Plants consi)icuously beautiful for their form should 

 not be gathered together in tight bouquets ; each should be enjoyed 

 by itself, or with two or three companions so grouped in a vase or 

 other receptacle that the beautiful lines of each are enhanced by those 

 of the others. Plants of lovely color, on the other hand, are more 

 effective when massed. One snowball is insignificant; a bushel bas- 

 ket full of branches crowded with the balls of creamy white, glowing 

 against the rich green of their foliage, is highly effective. In the 

 arrangement of flowers of beautiful form, we have much to learn from 

 the Japanese. 



The Studio for October and December, 1896, has suggestive articles, 

 with more suggestive illustrations, of the fine art of flower arrangement 

 as practised by the floral artists of the Sunrise Kingdom. Mr. Con- 

 der's book on the subject, to be found in the library of the Horticul- 

 tural Society, will repay thoughtful study. Even the Japanese prints, 

 now so easily obtainable, are not to be despised by the wide-awake 

 florist. 



Form beauty is dependent largely upon contrast, proportion and 

 curvature [this was illustrated by numerous charts and blackboard 

 sketches] ; and the grouping of plants or sprays is to be governed by 

 the laws of balance. [Illustrated.] Beautiful color has such qualities 



