"it* 



Februaby 9, 1905. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



645 





THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



\i\ "^ ^5; 



BASKET STUDIES. 



It will be easily observed that the 

 more graceful forms will be found amoDg 

 the round or modified round shapes in 

 baskets, and of these the high-arched 

 handles fill to the best advantage. This 

 follows the principle that long, easily 

 ■curved lines most nearly approach the 

 beautiful. This is why Nephrolepis Bos- 

 toniensis is far more admired than Neph- 

 rolepis exaltata. The lines formed by 

 the leaf stalks of the former are longer 

 and more easily curved than the latter. 



Another good point in basket construc- 

 tion is the close resemblance in form of 

 the basket outline and the form which 

 the handle takes. In the basket used 

 for the lily of the valley in the accom- 

 panying illustration the handle takes a 

 modified circular form, which description 

 also applies to the basket form. In the 

 basket used for the violets the handle 

 becomes a part of the basket proper, 

 which is even better than the first. 



One of the most graceful baskets ever 

 manufactured and put on the market was 

 shallow, round-bottomed, with a handle 

 also round, which formed the lower 

 framework of the body of the basket as 

 it encircled the same. 



A high-handled basket is most daintily 

 and appropriately filled when there is 

 ample unfilled space between the basket 

 proper and the top of the handle. In 

 other words, do not try to fill in long- 

 stemmed flowers from the basket to the 

 handle. . Trim the handle itself, elabo- 

 rately if desired. Fill the basket full 

 below, but leave the space under the arch 

 of the handle unoccupied, as is shown 

 in the two illustrations herewith. • On 

 the eontraiy, when a low handled basket 

 is used, fairly bury the handle in long- 

 stemmed clusters of flowers or foliage. 



The first basket is simply designed, 

 both in color and trimming. The basket 

 itself is crimson. The lower part is 

 filled with valley with its own foliage 

 and the handle is nearly covered with a 

 garland of smilax on which are fastened 

 Golden Gate roses. It is suitable for a 

 reception table centerpiece, for display 

 purposes, or for presentation. For the 

 first two purposes no stemming or 

 sphagnum is necessary. Place the val- 

 ley in a flaring dish which will fit inside 

 of the basket and let the flowers be in 

 water. Do not use a rose bowl or any 

 receptacle the mouth of which is con- 

 fining or inclined to throw the flower 

 stalks m towards the center rather than 

 to allow them the outward tendency. 



After filling in the body of the basket 

 with the lilies and the valley, take a 

 fitring of smilax of medium weight and 

 fasten the heavy end near the lower part 

 of the handle on the left side. A lit- 

 tle twist of fine wire will be sufficient to 

 do this without allowing it to be seen. 

 Then carry the smilax up to some point 

 on the top edge of the basket about one- 

 third of the way around toward the 

 right and fasten again lightlv to the 

 rough surface of the basket.' From 



this point drop a drape in the smilax 

 down to the base of the outside of the 

 basket and up to the point where the 

 handle touches the top edge of the bas- 

 ket on the right. Secure the smilax here 

 in the same manner as before and follow 

 the handle upwards around the top to a 

 point slightly more than half-w.iy ilowii 

 the handle on the left side. This will be 

 about the tip end of the string. Let it 



garland fasten these limp roses and let 

 them have their way, as is shown in the 

 first picture. Next place a rosette of 

 four or five wood ferns against the left 

 side of the handle, with their stems in- 

 side of the dish which contains the val- 

 ley. 



If the above is wanted lor presenta- 

 tion the valley or other flowers which 

 fill the basket proper will neeii t.i 

 be stemmed and planted in sphagnum, 

 after the manner of design work. Wired 

 picks can be used, the foliage on about 

 half of the sprays being stemmed in 

 with the flowers. The entire valley stalk 

 as it is cut makes too thick a stem to be 

 wired to a pick. The outside sheath 

 should be removed, loaviujr only the in- 

 side stalk. Wire this carefuUj*, as the 

 tender stem breaks easily if wrapped 

 too tightly. Both sides of the handle, 

 front and back, should be treated the 



Valley in the Basket, Golden Gate Roses on Handle. 



drop where it will of its own accord, 

 leaving a portion of the handle bare. 

 Part of the way around the handle let 

 the smilax drop a wee bit from the 

 itandle ani in other place? let it co^no 

 over the handle. Secure here and there 

 with tiny wrappings of wire.' You often 

 have at hand Golden Gate roses which 

 you cannot coax to hold up on account 

 of weak stems. Here is the place for 

 them. Here and there on this smilax 



same, or the garland brought round and 

 round the handle, the latter being the 

 less desirable of the two. 



In the second illustration the same 

 simple design is followed in conformltv 

 with the shape of the basket. The bas- 

 ket is oval in form with birch bark 

 cover. 'The violets are placed in a 

 small vase of water in the basket. In 

 this case, also, circumstances may -e- 

 quire the flowers to be stemmed and in- 



