CONSTRUCTION OF BOUQUETS, ETC. 235 



proceeds. Baskets thus filled and sprinkled with water 

 keep well, but the more common method is to insert 

 bouquet green (Lycopodium) over the whole surface, and 

 arrange the flowers therein without any moss packing. 

 Wreaths are commonly made on a stout wire, which has 

 straw matting wound upon it, to enable the thread to 

 hold ; a backing of green is laid for the flowers as the 

 work proceeds. Both green and flowers must be wound 

 on with points projecting to each side, the stems crossing 

 like the letter X. If laid straight along, the flowers are 

 huddled together, and the arrangement seems thick- 

 backed and clumsy. When the desired length is attained 

 the ends are firmly tied, and flowers and green together 

 are pressed round on the wire, and by this means turned 

 to face as required ; a bow of white silk bonnet string 

 finishes the wreath. Crosses are made on two pieces of 

 thin wood ; the three upper points being made, the 

 cross-stick is then tacked and tied in its place, the center 

 filled, and so wound to the bottom. Like wreaths, these 

 may be finished with or without a bow of ribbon. Wire 

 frames have entirely superseded the old methods of wind- 

 ing flowers to sticks and wires, These are made from 

 half to three quarters of an inch in depth that is with 

 raised edges and painted green, the breadth varying with 

 the circumference. The frame gives the florist at once 

 the desired form, and makes it easy for any person of 

 taste to arrange flowers in the shape of an anchor, star, 

 etc., etc. The frame is filled with damp moss, wound 

 slightly to keep it in place, and the flowers, stemmed OD 

 short twigs, are inserted in the moss. 



As has already been said, this chapter was written in 

 1868, by Mr. Park, who had the rare combination of 

 being a clear and terse writer, as well as a practical 

 florist. But little can be added to the chapter, the 

 ground has been gone over so thoroughly, except to 

 show briefly the changes in style that have taken place. 



