54 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I have a fondness for specimen glasses (if the glass vases are 

 crimson or green ; the delicate shades — just a tint of color — are pretti- 

 est) for tall, choice, fragrant flowers, each holding one blossom or one 

 spray of blossoms, of course with its own green leaves ; and glass 

 trays for low-growing flowers, in which case sand or moss should be 

 used besides the water. 



In cutting, a knife will not bruise the stems as do the scissors. 

 Ferns, the most beautiful for decorations made chiefly of green, 

 should be dipped into tepid water before placing them in position. 

 A cool, dark cellar is the best place to keep them until read^' for use. 

 As a rule, ver3^ fragrant flowers, as lilies, lilacs, &c., should be 

 used in very small quantities in the dining-room or library, and avoided 

 altogether in the sleeping- room. Small, neat plants are most eftective ; 

 if large sized they tend to give a heavy appearance. In finger glasses 

 several rose-geranium leaves should float and each ma}' be pierced 

 by the stem of its blossom, allowing a bloom to rest upon each leaf. 

 For the mantel-piece larger and bolder varieties of flowers may be 

 used than for the tables, but they should be so placed as to avoid 

 all appearance of crowding. Trailing plants look well drooping 

 from such positions, as clematis, ivy, hops, passion flowers, colloseum 

 ■ ivy, oats and wild field grasses, asparagus, carrot tops and ferns are 

 all eff"ective when enough of the green cannot be found to accompany 

 the flower. 



Ferns are especiall}' useful, as they can be cut when too large and 

 the ends used. A beautiful pair of bouquets representing fruit and 

 flowers can be arranged, one of the high-bush cranberries and white 

 snowberries, and the other of London pride and feverfews or white 

 lilies, each intermixed with lace-like flowers or grasses to tone 

 the "invincible scarlet" eflfectively ; the scarlet only showing through 

 the hazy veil of the fine thread-like flowers as through smoke or mist. 

 If in doubt how to arrange flowers to send to a friend, send them 

 lying loosely without any attempt at arrangement, but only send two 

 or three varieties, never more. If doubtful what flower to use when 

 partially arranged, take a white flower, as it can be safely used to 

 separate any shades. The lily is (not the lilies are) a symbol of 

 purity, therefore, one lily as a gift is more speaking than several. 

 The same may be said of many other flowers. Small, neatly- arranged 

 baskets of flowers are always attractive. Zinc pans should be made 

 to fit into them to hold the damp sand or moss. Roses all of one color 

 fill these admirably, their own foliage preferable (with half-opened 



