18 BRITISH FLORAL DECORATION 



and for foliage, leaves of any of the yellow-veined Crotons 

 and some pale Asparagus plumosus. 



At Christmas a very pretty table may be made of 

 Mistletoe, Cypripedium insigne, and Lilies of the Valley, 

 with a light design of small pieces of Mistletoe on the 

 cloth. It can be varied by the addition of well-berried 

 pieces of Holly on the second day, but it is advisable to 

 take a great many of the leaves off the Holly so that the 

 berries may produce their full red effect. 



A table of Sweet Peas, which owing to its success I have 

 had to repeat three times for the King's birthday dinner at 

 St. James's Palace, was composed of masses of Sweet Peas in 

 bowls of various heights, commencing in the middle of the 

 table with " King Edward " and " Queen Alexandra," and 

 graduating in colour to each end, finishing up with Mrs. 

 Hardcastle Sykes or Elsie Herbert. 



In this table salmon-pink must be carefully avoided, and 

 if any flowers are used on the cloth they must be graduated as 

 well as those in the vases, and long sprays of Sweet Pea 

 foliage should be used with them. 



There is no more striking table than one of Water-lilies 

 and water-plants, but they are somewhat expensive to 

 arrange for the first time, though afterwards, having all the 

 accessories, they cost very little. 



A circular tin, in proportion to the size of the table, 

 should go in the middle, then strips fitting into it and 

 tapering down to a point should wind their way to each 

 end of the table, care being taken to allow the windings to 

 take different courses. The tins must be one and a half 

 inches deep, and can be made by any local tin-smith, and 



