2G6 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Nov. 



Fl.ORIOULTtJRE OF THB TOILET. 



The Magazines are giving the ladies ever}' month a Fash- 

 ion PlaU, and we see no good reason why wo Bhoiild not 

 occasionally give our Fashion Plate. So we commence with 

 the Floral Fashions. The floriculture of the toilet cmhraces 

 the choice culture and general knowledge of all those plants 

 which are susceptible of ornamenting the human form. As 

 our fashions, to be acceptable, must be from European mod- 

 els, in this respect we are up to the times, as we copy the 

 accompanying engraving and description from the London 

 Magazine of Botany, for which it is translated from La Del- 

 gigne Horticole : 



" One of the favorite amusements of infancy is to plait 

 crowns with the wild flowers of 

 the woods and fields. The tim- 

 id lovi'r expresses liis passion by 

 the homage of a boquot ; and 

 the young belle naively aban- 

 dons to her favorite the flowers 

 vvliich decked her brow or 

 withered on her bosom. Old 

 ago itself smiles on flowers.— 

 Crowns and other garlands may 

 be traced to the most remote 

 aniifjuity. .\mong the Greeks 

 and Romans the crown was, so 

 to speak, the ordinary hair- 

 dress of the great philosophers. 

 Socrates had always his head 

 encircled with flowers. Alcibi- 

 ades changed his crown three 

 times a day. At eighty years 

 Anacreon mixed roses with his 

 white hairs. Cresar, who was 

 bald nt thirty years, was in- 

 debted for a long time to the 

 crown of flowers to conceal this 

 defect from the beauties of 

 Rome. At Athens as at Rome, 

 no one could present himself in 

 public without hu crown. 



At the present day there is an 

 evident inclination to return to 

 the better customs of Greece 

 and Rome. Let us hope that in 

 a short time the crown and the 

 boquet will be rigorously en- 

 forced in every reunion which 

 has pleasure for its object. — 

 Why should notour ladies aban- 

 don tlio ungraceful cap for the 

 elegant and odoriferous crown 

 of flowers ? 



In order to render this part of 

 horticulture directly realizable, 

 we shall pass on to the descrip- 

 tions of head-dress in fashion, 

 tiie first since 1847 ; the second 

 during the present year 1851 ; and the third, with some ex- 

 ceptions, at intermittent periods. 



1. Coiffure a la Flore (Head-dress of Flowers). — This is 

 suitable for those persons whose proportions and forma are of 

 the most perfect character, and which come nearest the Gre- 

 cian type. The profile especially must be one of those 

 which are commonly found represented on ancient bns reliefs. 

 This head-dress is worn with the hair arranged in graceful 

 wavy lr)cks, the back being tied in a bunch, merely with a 

 narrow band, and the ends floating down. The crown of 

 flowers doc.H not in this case form a diadem, but is tied in a 

 knot behind, and at the lowest part of the head, from which 

 pjint It gradually enlarges till it reaches the front, or the 

 paint immediately above the brow. This form of crown is 

 composed of high-colored flowers, as the Rose, Narcissus, 

 Hyacinth, Camellia, Carnation, and sometimes an Orchid, 

 and it is bordered with Kricasand distichous Cypress, termi- 

 nating in leaves, with the more slender or fine parts of 

 branches of flowers which lake an upright, and, at the same 

 time, a nodding form. The ancient ear-rings, and the string 

 of poarU iiround the neck, harmonize admirably with this 

 head-dress, which, invented more than a thousand years, is 

 not the less handsome and in keeping with good taste. The 



figure (1) represents this form of head-dress taken from the 

 Flore de Canova. 



2. Coiffure a la Cires (Head-dress of Cereals). — "This 

 kiiW of head-dress," eaysM. Lachaume, "is worn with either 

 even or wavy locks. It is very graceful, but only suitable 

 for those ladies who have the head well proportioned. It 

 should always be made in the form of a diadem in front, 

 from the top of the brow. It is best formed (plaited) of the 

 small flowers of Roses, or of Camelias, mixed with Violets, 

 Pinks, &c. The Erica, or any very light foliage, is indis- 

 pensable." We shall only add that nothing can be moio 

 graceful or appropriate than one or two spikes of Hordeum 

 Zeocriton. H. hexastichon, Triticum monococcum, and other 

 ornamental grains. They are used dry for this purpose, and 

 decorated by means of gum with gold or silver in leaf. — 

 Ladies make elegant boquets of these cereals, wliich last 

 throughout the winter. Cereals for head-dresses should be 



sown in spring, and the go den-yellow spikes, when matured, 

 have a charming efl'ect among the flowers which have been 

 already named. In winter the forced flowers of I'yrus 

 japonica, as well as the Coelestina, will be found very ser- 

 viceable. 



3. Coiffure a la Pomone (Head-dress of Fruit). — This form 

 is chiefly suitable for those who have a large and robust fifj- 

 ure, and a healthy high-colored complexion. The crown is 

 large, formed of fruits and leaves of the most select sorts. — 

 The top of the corset is also furnished with a garland formed 

 in a similar manner. This style of ornament has many re- 

 sources, which are much ignored by artistes. The pretty 

 red berries of Ardisia crenulata have a fine eflect, resembling 

 bunches of coral beads, and which may be obtained during 

 the whole winter in our stores. The short-fruited spikes of 

 Chama;rop3 humilis. are equally desirable, and may be as 

 readily obtained. Many of the Common Thorn or Crataegus, 

 also furnish abundant resources. 'I'ho white berries of the 

 Mistletoe (Viscum album) with their leathery leaves, which 

 do not soon fade, are excellent for this purpose, as well as 

 the pearly berries of Rhipsalis. Besides many varieties of 

 natural fruits, imitations m glass, especially small bunches 

 of Grapes, are very effective. 



