210 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



popular of any ; certainly it is one of the lightest 

 and most elegant of all Palms -when in a small 

 state. 



As an example, suppose we take a well-balanced 

 plant of this Cocos in a three or four-inch pot, 

 which will he large enough, unless required as a 

 centre-piece to a very large tahle ; place this plant, 

 . pot and all, on a dinner or soup plate, and mound up 

 around the pot with wet sand nearly to the rim; 

 then cover this surface with either green Moss or 

 Selaginella denticulata, otherwise called S. Krausaiana. 

 The variegated form of this Selaginella {S. K. aurea) 

 is most pleasing during the spring-time ; later on its 

 tips lose in a measure their colour. On this carpet- 

 ing we may proceed to arrange a few Fern-fronds 

 around the base as a fringe to rest on the cloth ; or 

 as a variety, instead of Fern, the foliage of Begonia 

 metallica and a silvery form with it may be used. 

 With the addition of a few Maiden-hair fronds 

 we may then dot in a moderate quantity of flowers 

 as a finish, and to impart colour. For this purpose 

 a few blooms of Eucharis are useful ; the Indian 

 ■Azaleas, as well as the " Ghent " and " mollis " types, 

 too, are very pretty when in season. Some Gloxinia 

 blooms, or Valloia purpurea, each in their season, 

 have a good effect with the Eucharis. Roses also 

 will look exceedingly well in such a decoration as 

 this, allowing the groundwork of Selaginella to be 

 seen between each blossom. Single flowers of the 

 many hardy Lilies and their allies are also effective ; 

 the single forms of Dahlias likewise are suitable, 

 having the advantage of a fairly long stem, which 

 enables the flower to be kept well above the Moss. 

 Small flowers, such as the Rhodanthes, the Blue 

 Com Flower, and others, are not striking enough in 

 themselves without the aid of bolder kinds, but as an 

 intermixture they are of good service; so also are the 

 Forget-me-nots and Gypsophila elegans when they 

 are to be had. Camellias are also excellent for this 

 kind of design, not omitting their own handsome 

 foliage. If flowers are scarce, berries could be 

 chosen in lieu thereof, or if the Selaginella be of the 

 best, both may be dispensed with as a change. For 

 this method the golden-tipped variety would make 

 an excellent covering, with a few leaves of Begonia 

 ■melalliea as a fringing to the same, the contrast 

 between these two subjects being most effective. 



Fig. 4 is drawn from such a design put together 

 to illustrate this article. In this arrangement the 

 flowers are selected from bulbous and tuberous- 

 rooted plants entirely, all of them having there- 

 fore a certain amount of affinity. They consist 

 of the Poet's Narcissus, Campanelle Jonquils, 

 rod and yellow Tulips, Lilies of the Valley, 

 Lachenalia tricolor, and Anemone fulgens. Besides 

 making use of the foliage of the foregoing flowers. 



some tufts of Cyperus altertiifolius (the exotic Sedge, 

 grass) and Adiantum Capillus-veneris (the British 

 Maiden-hair Fern), with a few Begonia -leaves 

 around the base, and a carpeting over the sand (in 

 which the pot of the plant is plunged) of Selaginella 

 or Club Moss are also used. This might be termed 

 a vernal or spring arrangement. If this design is 

 required in a larger form as a centre-piece to a fair- 

 sized table, the Palm may be from about three feet to 

 three feet six inches ia height, and even taller, if the 

 tahle is of extra width and length. We have used 

 them three feet or more in height vpith good effect, 

 entwining a climber around the stem, or using an 

 extra long spike of an Orchid, as Onciditim sphace- 

 latum, instead. Nothing exceeding a six-inch pot 

 should be allowed for the largest jjlants in this kind 

 of work. We avoid even this size as far as we can, 

 for the simple object of keeping the base as low as 

 possible, to avoid any heaviness in appearance. Many 

 who attempt these designs fail in this important 

 point at the comrnenoement of their work, it being 

 necessary to keep the mounding of Moss or Selagi- 

 nella as dwarf as can be, so that it is in proportion 

 to the width at the base — say, for instance, if the 

 height he five inches or thereabouts, the width should 

 be about double, smd with the addition of foliage to 

 rest on the cloth another eight inches vrill have to be 

 added to the diameter, which will not be any too 

 much. 



As a centre-piece to a table capable of dining from 

 twenty to twenty-four persons, an oval dish, about 

 the middle size, is better than a plate, as it affords 

 the means of extending the base towards the ends of 

 the table by keeping the dish lengthwise. The pot 

 of the plant that is used must not exceed the six- 

 inch diameter, even with this dish in lieu of a plate ; 

 room win, however, be found for two or three tiny 

 Ferns, Fcmdanns Veitchii, when well developed in a 

 small state, or the small Caladium argyrites. Plants 

 of the Chinese Primula, when flowered in three-inch 

 pots, can also be used, but taking them out of their 

 pots for the occasion. Take, for instance, an ar- 

 rangement during the spring-time, having one of the 

 afore-named Palms as a centre, with a surrounding 

 of two small Pandanus, a, few tiny Ferns, and three 

 or four Primulas, all from the smallest pots. When 

 these have been fixed in the sand, the intervening- 

 space can be covered with Moss, and some few cut 

 ■ flowers and foliage added to complete the arrange- 

 ment, such as a few blooms of Tulips like VermiUon 

 Brilliant, Chrysolors^, or the distinct self-colom'ed 

 Due van Thols ; two shades of colour being sufficient, 

 and five or six blossoms quite enough to use. A few 

 spikes of Lilies of the Valley or flowers of the 

 Daffodils would be a suitable addition. 



From the stove, in place of. these that wo have 



