CASSELL'S POPULAR GAiJDENlNG. 



•which develop a somewhat large spike, are heat seen 

 in the same position. 



Other Glass "Vases. — ^Another form of vase, a, 

 modification of the "Marsh" type, and -which we 

 think is preferable to that for several reasons, is one 

 with a, base similar to the " Marsh," but a trifle 

 smaller. Prom the centre of this rises a, slender 

 stem, expanding into a larger-sized cornucopia than 

 in the case of the "Marsh." This is, we think, 

 one of the best forms of glass vases for the dinner- 

 table that have yet been brought out. The long 

 slender stem of the cornucopia is no obstruction to 

 the line of sight, and the arrangement of the base is 

 all the better displayed by the omission of the upper 

 dish. Flowers of larger forms can be more advanta- 

 geously arranged in such as this, whilst spikes of 

 small size from the Gladiolus and the Iridaeceous 

 plants are just adapted for such a form of vase. The 

 large handsome blossoms of the Cactus (Cereus speeio- 

 sissimus) and the "White Water Lily, with hosts of 

 other flowers of bold outline, are effectively ar- 

 ranged in the base, whilst there is room for a display 

 of appropriate foliage interspersed amongst them. 

 When climbers are used for the stems, they also wiU 

 be seen to better advantage with the greater length 

 of glass to be clothed. 



Long drooping spikes of slender outline will look 

 ■weU around the edge of the trumpet — such, for in- 

 stance, as Thyrsacantlms rutilans, Flmnbago rosea, 

 Chorozema Chcmdleri, and the pendulous forms of the 

 tuberous-rooted Begonias. The individual blossoms 

 of the smaller kinds of Passion-flowers (JPassiflora) 

 are extremely pretty. P. kermesina of the stove 

 species, and P. ctsruUa among the hardier kinds, are 

 two of the best, and will both have good effect when 

 used in a similar manner to the other flowers just 

 mentioned. A small spike of Smnea elegans or 

 Spircea Arunms will look well in the trumpet, with 

 a few colours to contrast. The top arrangement can 

 well afford to be carried to a fairly good height, 

 to prevent any dumpy appearance when finished. 



Pig. 3 is drawn from such a vase of flowers 

 specially arranged to illustrate this article. The 

 base thereof is arranged with a mixed assortment 

 of flowers, most of which are readily discernible . 

 in the engraving. Of exotic flowers there are 

 ^itcharis amazoniea, Anthurium Soherzerianum, and 

 Dendrobhim nobile ; of bulbous plants, the Poet's 

 Narcissus, Red Tulips (Vermilion Brilliant), Cara- 

 panelle Jonquils, Lilies of the Valley, and Anemone 

 fulgena. The foliage used in conjunction with the 

 flowers is, of Ferns, Adiantum eardioohlcena, A. 

 macrophyllum, and A. cuneatum; the carpeting or 

 undergrowth consisting of Panicum variegatmn. 

 The cornucopia is filled with flowers of Begonia 



manicata and B. nitida odorata, with Thyrsacanthta 

 mtilans and Deutsia gracilis as pendants ; and, of 

 foliage, a long trailing growth of FaulUnia thalie-' 

 trifolia, with fronds of Adiantum cuneatum, and one 

 or two medium-sized Begonia- leaves. 



There are also trumpet-shaped glass vases withoat 

 any means of arranging flowers at the base. With 

 such it is easy to contrive a temporary receptaoite for 

 these ends by placing the vase in an ordinary dinner- 

 plate, and firmly fixing it there with some string. 

 We have often done this, and it answers the purpose 

 as well as a properly constructed vase. When used 

 without the bottom arrangement, these trumpet vases 

 form an excellent medium whereon to arrange extra 

 long shoots of climbing plants — such, for instance, 

 as Cissus discolor — allowing the shoots to trail on the 

 cloth. Asparagus plum^sus nanus, again, woiild be 

 extremely pretty in the same position, whilst in the 

 trumpet itself a shoot or two of the narrow-leaved 

 Crotons of pendulous growth would be well placed. 

 The tufts of the Oyperus alternifolius, with a good 

 length of stem, could also be used in unison with a 

 few flowers of spike-Kke formation or of drooping 

 habit, such as the slender spikes of Chelqne barbata, 

 and the Pentstemons, or a small panide of one of the 

 smaller forms of Lilium during the summer months. 

 In the early spring the slender spikes of the Soman 

 Hyacinth, with the many and varied fomis of Nar- 

 cissus, to be followed by Solomon's Seal, of which 

 the smallest growths are preferable, will each and 

 all be found adapted for such an arrangement. 



The essential point in aU dinner-table decorations 

 of this description is to secure for the trumpet 

 arrangement as light an appearance as possible. 

 This is very frequently overlooked by decorators 

 in filling their vases. These would have a far 

 prettier effect in many cases it about two-thirds 

 of the flowers were never used at all. We have 

 often seen the trumpets of such designs out of all 

 proportion to the rest of the stand, looking some- 

 what like a huge bouquet placed on the top. The 

 great secret with these and all other decorations is, 

 to know w/ien to leame off, and without this gift the 

 utmost effect cannot be extracted from any given 

 amount of material. 



Of glass vases that ought to be avoided in dinner- 

 table decorations, it is necessary to say at least a 

 few words. It is a mistaken idea to think that, be- 

 cause a flower-vase is a flower-vase, it is therefore 

 adapted for the dinner-table. Such is by no means 

 the case. Many designs are met with which are 

 very pretty of themselves, and when filled with 

 flowers also look well, but are not suitable for table 

 decorations by reason of the density of appearance 

 they present, thereby causing an obstruction of view 

 across the table to a most considerable extent. Such 



