12 



The Weekly Florists' Review^ 



Mat 2S, 1011. 



ly lost and that light flowers should 

 prevail. 



The number of doorways has much 

 to do with any wall festooning which 

 you may have in mind. If the room is 

 much cut into in this way, do not at- 

 tempt this plan, but use up and down 

 panel effects. Double doorways or 

 arches of about the same width take 

 from one-half dozen to one dozen 

 strings of smilax for both sides. 



If the general look of the whole in- 

 terior is dark, it might be well to in- 

 troduce new backgrounds, such as light 

 screens or silk draperies in places. 

 Walls which are decorated with bold 

 figures are ns good as prohibitory for 

 your plans for decorations. Keep away 

 from them or cover them with new 

 backgrounds. 



Often you find a living-room in which 

 one whole side or end consists of win- 

 dows and is consequently a wide ex- 

 panse of lace or silk drapery. Here 

 is a place for smilax strings separated 

 into their finest vines, hanging in 

 straight festoons apparently from the 

 ceiling down, but in reality from a light 

 framework erected over the top of the 

 windows like a false ceiling. Let this 

 be several feet deep, according to the 

 size of the room. 



The Hall and Stairway. 



Is the stairway opposite or in sight 

 from the front entrance? If so, seize 



as a center and festooning the balus- 

 trade more or less elaborately. If the 

 stairway and hall are dark, garlands 

 of light flowers may carry out the same 

 design. Many times these may be a 

 light latticework of green made from 

 the space above the balustrade to the 

 landing above. A broadside view of 

 the staircase will afford a better foun- 

 dation for a decorative plan than an 

 upstair view. A massive newel post is 

 also a good starting point for a group 

 of decorative lines. 



The style of balustrade determines 

 whether or not it will serve as a fas- 

 tening place for decorative material. 

 If open, well and good; if solid, of 

 carved wood or other material, do not 

 deface it by tacks or nails. Always 

 leave the hand rail untouched. The 

 width of the stairs determines whether 

 you shall venture with any potted 

 plants to mark its ascent. As a rule, 

 they are better off than on. 



The Mantel. 



The special features of each room 

 and their position with reference to 

 each other should be accurately noted. 

 Observe the mantel; its style, size, 

 number of shelves; what is above it on 

 the wall, whether mirror, picture or 

 carved panels; length and width of 

 shelf inside of columns or carvings. In 

 case a large picture is over the mantel, 

 you cannot plan for any elaborate 



^Treath Made by the Jones-Russell G>., Cleveland, Ohio. 



upon that as one of the most important 

 points. Plan for a hanging feature 

 which has connecting lines with the 

 balustrade above and below. You could 

 suggest a number of plans, such as a 

 hanging basket with draperies of smilax 

 or asparagus starting from the basket 



decorative piece that would hide the 

 picture. See whether a doorway ia 

 close enough to the mantel to connect 

 the two in one set of lines. 



The dining room is one of the im- 

 portant places. Here you must depend 

 upon your questions as to time and 



manner of serving, the style of service, 

 the size of the table or tables; the 

 bride's table, its distinction from the 

 others; favors or no favors, etc. If it 

 is to be a reception taljle, then a high 

 centerpiece of long, spreading lines will 

 be needed, with your decorative ac- 

 cents centered above the table. If it is 

 to be a wedding breakfast or dinner, 

 your centerpiece must be confined to 

 delicate, creeping lines and your group- 

 ing must be such as will be pleasant to 

 look down upon rather than through 

 and under, as in the case of the recep- 

 tion table. G. B. 



A PLEA FOR FATHERS' DAY. 



We have just celebrated Mothers' 

 day — the second Sunday in May — and 

 a grand success it was in every respect 

 — except, of course, where some grow- 

 ers sent in pickled stock and caused 

 disappointments. Mothers' day has 

 come to remain with us forever and 

 grow in public favor all the time. That 

 is right, but how about Fathers' day? 

 It was casually mentioned last year 

 in the columns of The Review, but 

 there it ended. 



Now, as no one else has designated a 

 date and a flower for Fathers' day, let 

 me suggest both and give my reasons 

 for so doing. Then, if any one else has 

 a better idea, let it be ado^jted. Many 

 of us hold the memory of father even 

 dearer than that of mother, and most 

 of us remember him with equal love 

 and reverence, so why have a Mothers' 

 day and not a Fathers' day? 



The flower I would suggest is the 

 chrysanthemum, because it is a strong, 

 lasting flower. It is beautiful and most 

 people love its fragrance. It reminds 

 one of the strong, hardy, enduring qual- 

 ities of a father; frosty, perhaps, but 

 sturdy and true. And, last but by no 

 means least, it can be grown anywhere, 

 by anyone; every child can be inde- 

 pendent and grow his own flowers for 

 Fathers' day. Those who want the 

 fine greenhouse kinds can buy them, but 

 if they will satisfy themselves with a 

 smaller specimen, they can buy a few 

 plants and grow them for themselves, 

 either in the garden or in pots. 



The day I would suggest is the second 

 Sunday in November. The early vari- 

 eties of chrysanthemums would be in 

 flower by that time and that is the 

 proper kind for people to grow who 

 have no greenhouses. The celebration 

 would occur just six months from 

 Mothers ' day, giving the grown-up chil- 

 dren another nice excuse to come tumb- 

 ling home, and to eat the good things 

 bought by that dear father and pre- 

 pared by that dear mother. They 

 would bring great bunches of father's 

 flowers with them, with which to deck 

 the rooms and table. After supper the 

 men would sit by the fire and smoke 

 till train time, when they would assist 

 the wife and children into their wraps. 

 Then, each one wearing a chrysanthe- 

 mum, they would leave for home, con- 

 scious of having given and received 

 great enjoyment. 



Yes, let us have Fathers' day, by all 

 means. Will some other reader or 

 readers second my nominations or make 

 other suggestions? 



Mrs. L. M. Smith. 



Elmhurst, 111. — A new carnation 

 range is being built here for Geo, H. 

 Rabe and a Kroeschell boiler and 

 threaded tube piping system will be 

 used for heating. 



