I'lVf'/f'.'IM'. ".f'.IVI'. !'. I'.'I'/'^ 





as 



STRAWFLOWERS FOR 



CHRISTMAS SALES 



Flwists who have grown crops of strawjioivcrx will utilize their spare 

 time between now and Christmas in arratujimj them in wreaths and baskets. 

 Haw to do this is here told by one who has carefidly studied the retailer's 

 art for the purpose of imparting the best methods to studoits. 



HRISTMAS w r c a t h « of 

 struwflowers may be made 

 up in two ways. The 

 simplest form is a wreath 

 of green with a eluster or 

 clusters of flowers for col- 

 or or accent. The second 

 form is made up with flow- 

 ers throughout, the green 

 being used merely as a 

 background. This second form may be 

 made up with the flowers as the major 

 part or with scattered flowers on a mass 

 of green. 



For door and window wreaths lyco- 

 ])odium is one of the best forms of 

 green to use. It may be used in the 

 fresh state if the wreath is for tempo- 

 rary use, or of the prepared form if 

 the wreath is to last indefinitely. Box- 

 wood may also be used. Prepared oak 

 and beech leaves may be used, but the 

 foliage is somewhat large for l)est ef- 

 fects. Ruseus dyed or painted in suit- 

 able colors is also satisfactory. 



Work on Wire Rings. 



As wreaths for tlie window or door 

 should be made com])arativcly flat, they 

 .are best worked on wire rings. These 

 may be secured from tlie florists' su]i- 

 ply houses or may be made of No. I-") or 

 16 wire at home. To prepare a wire 



By H. B. DORNER. 



Chief In Floriculture, 

 I'nlvorslty of llllnol!'. 



ring or hoop, use a piece of wire a lit- 

 tle more than twice the circumference 

 of the ring desired. Make a loop of 

 the size desired, in the middle of the 

 piece, and then twist the free ends 

 about it. Fasten by bending the ends 

 over with a pair of nippers. This gives 

 a ring of double wire, wliich makes it 

 stronger and prevents the foliage from 

 twisting about on it. 



Florists' green thread is much su- 

 perior to raffia for wrapping, as it is 

 much stronger and the spool is easier to 

 liandle. Many florists prefer wire for 

 tliis purpose, as it does not loosen as 

 the wreath is being wound and it does 

 not need tying. Xo. 2fi is a good size 

 to use. 



Wreath with Cluster. 



The first type of wreath is prepared 

 l)y wiring the sprays of lycopodium in 

 place^ extending them on both sides to 

 give the desired width, and then filling 

 in between. Care must be ("xereised 

 that the wreath is the same widtli 

 througliout and that the opening in tlie 

 center is in the iirojier projiort ion. The 

 green wreath is completed before any 



flowers are added. Thi- tlower cluster 

 is then prepared, placed on the green 

 wreath and fastened securely. 



The flowers for the cluster are Itest 

 prepared by shortening the stems to an 

 inch or two (de])ending upon the size 

 of the wreath) and wiring. The larger 

 flowers may be wired singly ;ind the 

 smaller ones in clusters. For this pur- 

 [)ose use Xo. 2.T or Xo. 26 wire. It is 

 l)etter to use two or three wires of this 

 size than a single large one of tin; 

 same strength, for the resultant stem 

 is more flexible and there is less danger 

 of breaking the brittle flowers. Flowers 

 may be used on their natural stems, but 

 are arranged with greater ditticulty, on 

 account of the thickness and stiffness 

 of the stems. The eluster should be 

 worked from both ends and finished at 

 the center. 



Wreath with Flowers Throughout. 



ill the second tyj)i> of wreath tlie 

 flowers are fastened to the frame with 

 tlie lycopodium. Here also it is better 

 to wire the flowers, as they can better lie 

 placed in any position desired. 



Strawflowers, if carefully selected as 

 to. color, may be used with lycopodium 

 or other green as acci>iits for "frieze"' 

 wreaths. Red cape flowers, immortelles 

 ,inil niseiis, used with the yrei'ii Iveo- 



Two Types of Door or Vindow Wreaths for Christmas of Lycopodium and Strawflowers. 



