Jaiiuai'v, 1908 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



tral notch, however, has been entirely 

 bred out of the grandiflora class, but 

 occasionally the side notch is seen in 

 some of the Eckford novelties. It 



iras this side notch that got the "But- 



erfly" variety its name. 

 In whatever class he may choose to 



iltivate, the aspiration of every sweet 



za grower should be the highest stand- 

 iird of perfection. This means, first 

 jf all, the keeping in touch with sweet 



pea specialists so that seed of the very 

 choicest varieties may be secured ; sec- 

 ondly, a good idea of what constitutes 

 high-class sweet peas; and thirdly, a 

 thorough knowledge of those requisites 

 necessary in their culture. The most 

 approved types are the grandiflora and 

 the orchid-flowering singles. Develop- 

 ing these to the best form and size, 

 and adding to the number of blooms 

 upon the stem, should be the aim of 



every enthusiast. A flower stem must 

 be close to ten inches in length, with 

 the flower standard of a circular tend- 

 ency, when pressed out flat, and meas- 

 uring close on to two inches across, 

 before a sweet pea can be rated as an 

 ideal culture. To accomplish this one 

 must be thoroughly in earnest, and 

 ready to undergo a certain amount of 

 work, which, if the heart is in it, need 

 not be designated drudgery. 



rio^wers for House and Table Decoration 



1^^! 



FOR some time now it has been fash- 

 ionable to have table decorations 

 rather flat in general effect, with 

 here and there a high group of flowers, 

 or perhaps only candelabra, to give the 

 needed touch of style. These high parts 

 of the decorations are preferably placed 

 at the ends of the table rather than in 

 the centre in most cases, for it seems to 

 be the general idea that there should be 

 no intrusive decoration to keep persons 

 who are placed opposite each other from 

 seeing one another's faces. 



A very handsome decoration seen at a 

 wedding breakfast was all in green, yel- 

 low and white. The selection of flow- 

 ers was a little unusual, as it included, 

 instead of the usual bride's roses and 

 lilies, yellow orchids, smilax, ferns and 

 lilies of the valley. The decoration was 

 used for a table meant to seat eight per- 

 The table was covered with a 

 agnificent cloth, having a border of 

 ,ce which reached from the edge of 

 :he table almost to the floor. The table 

 as circular. 

 In the centre of the table was arranged 

 a little pool having a small fountain in 

 its centre. There were gold fish in the 

 pool which carried out the gold and 

 white of the decorations. The pool was 

 surrounded by a very wide and flat rope 

 of smilax, or perhaps it would be best 

 to call it a band. Here and there 

 among the smilax were a few lilies of 

 the valley, and there were two fairly 

 large bouquets of the lilies and ferns 

 placed opposite each other on the smilax. 

 ^rom this smilax circle also rose two 

 all glass vases whose bases were sur- 

 rounded with branches of palm leaves. 

 The vases were filled with orchids and 

 ms. Attached to them were small 

 lectric light bulbs which were partly 

 hidden by the ferns. These two vases 

 were also opposite each other and stood 

 midway between the bouquets of lilies. 

 So far the decorations described have 

 been confined to the pool and the en- 

 circling rope of smilax. Beyond this 

 was a large margin of table. From the 

 central decoration and across the rest 

 of the table there extended four ropes 

 of the smilax which hung down over the 

 edges of the table to the bottom of the 



^^i( 



cloth. Bouquets of orchids were at- 

 tached to the ends of these ropes and 

 other bouquets were attached to the 

 ropes about midway between the cen- 



maids and is mingled with maidenhair, 

 Farleyance and other fine ferns in^ a 

 soft, full arrangement that looks easy 

 to do but really requires a great deal 



Prize Decorated Dining Table at Niagara District Horticultural Exhibition 



tral decorations and the edge of the 

 table. 



In harmony with this color scheme 

 the fireplace decorations were in large 

 ferns, palms and yellow and white 

 chrysanthemums. Two great sheaves of 

 ferns and palms on either side of the 

 fireplace were set close together so that 

 the longer branches met. The pinnacle 

 of each had a loosely arranged bunch 

 of yellow and white chrysanthemums, 

 and there were more of these flowers 

 arranged loosely around the base of the 

 sheaves. One of the sheaves was much 

 higher than the other, which made a 

 much more pleasing arrangement than 

 if they had both been of the same length. 

 Loose bows of white gauze ribbon were 

 tied about the sheaves about midway 

 up, and the long, gauzy ends hung to 

 the floor. 



For the bridal bouquet the lily of the 

 valley interspersed with orchids is con- 

 sidered an ideal combination. Bouquets 

 made entirely of lilies of the valley are 

 also very fashionable. The rose is the 

 moment's favorite flower for the brides- 



of patience and skill. The bride's 

 bouquet is tied with long loops of soft 

 satin ribbon, and from it also depend 

 a quantity of very narrow ribbon 

 streamers, to which are attached clus- 

 ters of the lilies of which the bouquet is 

 composed. The bridesmaids' bouquets 

 are also tied with broad satin ribbon of 

 the very softest quality. The loops 

 and ends are all of the same length, and 

 are quite long. 



For very simple table decorations 

 which are to be done at home nothing 

 is easier and more effective in arrange- 

 ment than a long decoration down the 

 centre of the table. The decoration is 

 quite low, the highest points being 

 made by the candles at either end. For 

 this style of decoration moss is arranged 

 in a long, irregular line going down the 

 centre of the table. Ivy leaves and 

 ferns laid flat on the cloth branch out 

 from the moss in pleasing variety of 

 line. Under the moss are concealed 

 the receptacles which hold the water 

 for the flowers. These may be of a 

 moss green color, so that they may be 



