148 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Tbe fer^pclei) ai)d T^alci). 



FANCY GOURD BASKETS. 



^yJT O you know how gourds can be made into odd flower vases, fern 



f^j^^\f\>t P^^^' ^^^- ^ ^^^^ ^ '^^y recently. She showed two fancy idea.s, 



from which our artist has made sketches. The lady mentioned, 



said that she took some apple or cherry boughs of odd shape and 



wired them together in a sort of a cradle and then fastened the 



gourd in securely, and painted the whole with gold and silver 



- bronzes from Mills & Richardson Co., of Burlington, Vt., then 



decorated with a delicate ribbon. Of course it looked neat without the flowers. 



Before putting in the flowers she lined it with tinfoil, without a joint, to prevent 



the moisture from leaking through, filled 

 it with sphagnum or moss, and wetting 

 it, stuck the flowers in on their own stems, 

 with a few bits of tradescantia, which 

 rooted and grew. As fast as the flowers 

 withered she replaced them with others, 

 and so kept a fresh boquet in a decidedly 

 odd and ornamental vase. 



I'll;. .'{H. — (ioiKi' I'l.owKk Vask. 



I'll.. 'M). Cm Ki' Kkkn Vask. 



