The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



October 28, i<). 



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of flowers or with ribbon only. A spray 

 of brilliant foliage with a ribbon rosette 

 might well adorn such a piece. 



An All-f«rn Base. 



The base of a standing design can be 

 handsomely made of all ferns. Any va- 

 riety of nophrolepis is suitable for this 

 purjjose; often unsha])e!y or one-sided 

 ])lants just lit tlie liase. Here is where 

 square bases, rather than round ones, are 

 serviceable, the square ones giving more 

 space for the ball of .soil if a plant is to 

 be used. Or a l)ase of about luilf ferns 

 and half flowers is good, only do not 

 divide the arrangement abruptly. Blend 

 from one to the other by streaking or 

 blotching lines of one color into the mass 

 of the other. 



One large fern with long fronds at one 

 side, banked in below and around the 

 rest of tlie base by smaller ferns of a 

 different kind, makes a pleasing base. If 

 the fern plant cannot be sjiared and 



its wiry stem and tough foliage when 

 the flowers are entirely gone. There is 

 no other material, even if we include 

 long steniMied specimen flowers, that 

 makes a more graceful and appropriate 

 setting for a funeral design than an ar- 

 riuigement of fern plants or fronds. 

 Even the common wood ferns, which are 

 bouglit by tiie thousands for the cheapest 

 work, can be grouped in this way to re- 

 semble graceful fern plants. 



Covering a Fireplace. 



To fdl in a fireplace, stem them in 

 groups and plant in sphagnum, as de- 

 scribed above. The sphagnum should be 

 packed on a wire frame, fitted to the 

 fireplace. A frame need not be made; 

 anything that can be adjusted to the 

 shape of an arch will serve the purpose. 

 After being covered with ferns, it will 

 resemble a little hillside with ferns grow- 

 ing on it. Being rather perishable, these 

 ferns should be plunged in water and al- 



A Standing Wreath. 



plenty of cut ferns of any kind are to 

 be had, make your jdant.'*, so to speak. 

 Stem two or tiirec to a pick or match 

 stick, flaring them in ojiposite direc- 

 tions; tip out and j,'roup tliem closely in 

 the sphagnum. 



Many dislike the cut dagger fronds, 

 much preferring the common wood fern 

 for spray or design work. But here is a 

 place where the dagger works in to bet- 

 ter advantage still, holding its place by 



lowed to soak over night before they are 

 used. In spray work they are too flat 

 to use aloni\ but should have some good, 

 springy brush under them, and half the 

 (juantity will do. 



The small as-sorted ferns, such as 

 aspidium, the various kinds of pteris, 

 holly fern, plumosus, and others which 

 are the favorites for ferneries, can be 

 used to good advantage in other ways — 

 in tiny baskets as dinner or luncheon 



favors, planted upright in a flat 

 funeral piece while the piece is 

 mossed, as borders for flower ba&l 

 as dainty touches in window deci 

 where bare spots need something ; 

 don't know just what. Larger ft 

 long-leafed habit, are much nee^ 

 large baskets for funerals, store oj 

 or ordinary display work. Ofte 

 serve in a double capacity here, f(, 

 decorative qualities and to make uj 

 scarcity of flowers. 



Filling a Fernery. 



The filling of ferneries should 

 carefully looked after as any fine d 

 ing about the store. Too often it i 

 to a boy, and his accomplishments i 

 line will rival those of a milliner' 

 prentice. A slightly taller specimi-! 

 light weight and fine cut folia^'- 

 usually best for the center. Lower 

 not too bushy plants may be gio 

 about the edge, and those on the on' 

 edge should be rather airy and long, 

 tipped slightly outward to cover the •■ 

 About three varieties are enough fu 

 ordinary sized fernery. Attractive >■ 

 binations are hollj'-leaved fern and 

 paragus plumosus; another, an as-- 

 ment of pteris ferns; another, aspid 

 and Asparagus plumosus, or an all ad 

 turn if shapely; full plants can be 

 in the smaller sizes. 



Wherever flowers are acceptable, <he 

 same can be said of ferns. Many spiri- 

 mens of potted ferns are sent to the siek 

 room instead of perishable bloom inf; 

 plants or cut flowers, and even the frail 

 adiantums outlast any flowers. 



When flowers are scarce, have an entire 

 fern window around and within a groito 

 of rocks, with a little water in sight if 

 possible. Ferns, whether potted or lut, 

 are of prime value decoratively anywl.( re 

 and at any time. 



When standing under the lower fro"'ls 

 of the great brakes of the North Pa( lie 

 coast you will admire their beauty mhI 

 grace more than their size and will nure 

 than ever enjoy their tiny relatives of 

 the hothouse and woods. 



Gertrude Blaiii 



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A WREATH WITH SHOWER, 



One of the notable funerals at Wa* 

 bury, Conn., was that of Monsig' 

 William J. Slocum. It called for 

 elaborate display of floral work, am 

 which was the piece shown in the aci 

 panying illustration, the work of >' 

 Floto, of Saxe & Floto. The wre 

 was made of white chrysanthemums ■ 

 pink roses, the base of longiflorum li; 

 and the shower of white chiffon i 

 which have been tied large white ca: 

 tions, from which the stems had 1 

 cut. A broad white ribbon attested 

 the fact that the emblem was "From 

 Greeks of Waterbury." That the 

 sign ])leased its purchasers is show i 

 the fact tliat they had it photograj' 

 and the satisfaction of the customt 

 the one real test of the quality of 

 work. 



KERR'S WEDDING DECORATIO 



While church weddings calling 

 elaborate decorations may be commoi 

 the large cities, in places like Hous' 

 Tex., where the Robert C. Kerr Fl 

 Co. put up the decoration illustrate! 

 this issue, such an event is rare enor 

 to attract special attention. Nothing 

 elaborate had ever before been seen 

 Houston, although the southern cities 



