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June 27, 1907. 



The Weekly Florists' Review^ 



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a THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



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FUNERAL WORK. 



Sprayi or Flat Bunchei. 



The arranging of flowers into a nice, 

 loose spray is not so easy for a novice 

 as it may appear. Of course, anyone 

 can tie some flowers into a flat bunch 

 of some sort and call it a spray, but this 

 is not what the majority of people want. 



Unless your customer demands it, do 

 not mix too many varieties of flowers 

 together; not only are these hard to ar- 

 range nicely, but it shows poor taste. 

 You will invariably find that a spray 

 made up of one or two kinds of flowers 

 makes a much better appearance and 

 gives better satisfaction when finished. 



Material Needed. 



To make the regular, everyday sprays 

 or flat bunches the only essential mate- 

 rials you need, besides the greens and 

 flowers, are match sticks, preferably 

 green, and some strong green twine or 

 silkaline. It is not absolutely necessary 

 that you use green match sticks or green 

 string. No, indeed. You can make up 

 just as nice a spray upon a piece of 

 board split from the side of a shipping 

 box, tying the flowers with any old piece 

 of cord you may have handy, but you 

 must remember that sometimes, while 

 handling the flowers at a funeral, the 

 bottoxn of the piece may be seen and 

 yon can judge for yourself which wUl 

 make the better impression. Besides, 

 the string and stick used in one spray 

 cost but a fraction of a cent, while the 

 florist using them can demand much bet- 

 ter prices. 



Making a Simple Spray. 



Suppose, now, that you have an order 

 for a flat piece, similar to the one in 

 the illustration, which is made up of 

 carnations and sweet peas — a nice com- 

 bination. Start by placing about three 

 or four fern leaves on the stick to be 

 used, having the leaves project about 

 flve inches over the end of it. Hold with 

 your left hand; then under the thumb, 

 which should be on top, place the end 

 of your string and tie the leaves and 

 stick tightly together by winding the 

 string several times around, from right 

 to left. Never release your hold on the 

 ferns or flowers unless you have fast- 

 ened the string by drawing it up be- 

 tween the stems of the flowers or ferns. 

 Some florists cut the string into pieces 

 about one yard long when tying a bunch, 

 while others work with the whole spool. 

 This is just as one becomes accustomed 

 to it. Personally I prefer to work with 

 silkaline on a spool. Draw the string 

 up tightly as you go along. See that the 

 spray will lie flat when flnished. Some- 

 times, in working along, the piece will 

 get a twist into it, especisJly when 

 using heavy-stemmed flowers, such as 

 hyacinths. 



Before going any farther I will say 

 that in order to make a really artistic 

 effect it is essential that you always see 

 to it that the smallest or tightest flow- 

 ers are arranged at the ends and sides 

 of the spray — in fact, projecting out 

 above the larger flowers in the whole 

 piece. 



The sweet peas in the bunch illustrated 

 were rather short-stemmed, so it was 



necessary to wire them. This was done 

 by taking some No. 24 wire, straightened 

 and cut eighteen inches long, and fast- 

 ening two or three sweet peas into one 

 loose bunch, the wire serving as a stem. 

 Place two of these small bunches of peas 

 about three inches apart on top of the 

 ferns, about one inch back from the end, 

 and tie into place. Next lay several 

 carnations into place, alternating thus 

 until the spray is completed. As you 

 work along, lay a piece of Asparagus 

 Sprengeri in between the layers, this to 

 be held in place by the flowers. See 

 that the flowers do not run across the 

 bunch in regular rows; have them as 

 irregular as possible. 



As stated before, always have the 

 smaller flowers sticking out above the 

 larger ones. It holds good with open 

 or tight roses, lilies, etc. Do not try 

 to be too saving with green, as this is 

 just what shows the flowers up nicely. 

 The end of the bunch should not be cut 

 off too abruptly, as this spoils the whole 

 arrangement, no matter how much pains 

 you may have taken with the rest of 

 your work. After tying the last flowers 

 into place, leave about five inches of the 

 stems to finish oflP the bunch, giving the 

 piece a nice, finished appearance. On 

 a large one still more of the stem should 

 be left. When no ribbon is called for, 

 then tie several sprays of ffreen in vrtth 

 the final tie, completing the piece. 



More Elaborate Sprays. 



The flat bunch described above is but 

 the simplest kind, such as the florists 

 in the larger cities make up by the dozen 

 daily. 



Experience will soon teach one many 

 ways of arranging flowers into different 

 styles of sprays. Some flowers also 

 adapt themselves much better to this 

 work than others, but we cannot always 

 choose these, for oftentimes we must go 

 according to the taste of some queer cus- 

 tomer. Then, again, you will often have 

 a fine azalea or rhododendron .that is in 

 full bloom, too far open to sell on the 

 plant, but which will make a fine bunch 

 for a funeral taking place the same day. 



The Vay to Hold Flowen and SUkaUoc for Winding in Making a Flat Bunck. 



