DECORATIVE USE OF FLOWERS. 



275 



Gentiana bavarica (Bavarian (lentian).— Much like 

 the preceding species, but its leaves are smaUer and 

 Box-Kke. Its flowers are brilliantly hlue. The bog 

 is the proper place to see this lovely gem in per- 

 fection, but it must have full exposure to the sun, 

 and be protected from the incursions of rapidly- 

 growing plants. A native of the European Alps. 



* Gentiana Fneumonanthe (Marsh Gentian).— One 

 of our loveliest native plants, bearing long tubular 

 flowers. This is another plant for which the bog is 

 the proper home. Propagated by division. 



Gentiana verna (Spring Gentian).— Another na- 

 tive of exquisite beauty, and very dwarf in size. 

 On fuHy-exposed positions where plenty of water is 

 supplied during the summer, as well as in the 

 artificial bog, it will be sure to thrive if not overrun 

 by more rapidly-growing plants. It deserves any 

 amount of trouble, being so beautiful, and though it 

 rejoices in moisture this should not be stagnant. It 

 seems to prosper best when a plentiful supply of 

 nodules of sandstone are sprinkled on the surface of 

 the soil, and so preserve it from droughts. Plenty of 

 sand should be mixed with the soU in which it is 

 planted to secure sufBcient drainage. 



DECOEATIVE USE OF FLOWEES. 



By James Hudsoit. 



BBAwme-nooM. asb boudotb. 



THERE are many flowers that can be appropriately 

 used in the decoration of these, which would 

 not be so well suited to the purposes dwelt upon in 

 the previous chapter — such as Carnations, Picotees, 

 Pinks, and Stocks from among hardy flowers ; and 

 Gardenias, Jasmines, Stephanotis, and Bouvardia 

 Humboldtii corynibifhra from under glass. Our 

 Teasons for not using too many strongly-scented 

 flowers on the dinner-table were given in the last 

 •chapter. In any room one or two sprays of this 

 Bouvardia would be sufficient to perfume the atmo- 

 sphere, the fragrance from it in the evening being 

 very powerful. A few flowers also of the Tuberose 

 are quite enough in any apartment. When some 

 two or three spikes of it have to be arranged, they 

 will be best placed in either an entrance -hall or 

 ■corridor, where the perfume would be the more 

 likely to be disseminated throughout other apart- 

 ments. The Polyanthus Xarcissus and Hyacinths 

 are best placed in the same position as the Tuberose 

 spikes. Mignonette and Violets are universal 

 favourites in the drawing-room ; their unpretentious 

 flowers are not calculated to make a showy display, 

 but are nevertheless most welcome. So are the 

 blossoms of the Chimonanthus fragrans and its 



variety grandiftorus with their distinct perfume. The 

 Heliotrope, the Honeysuckles, and many other 

 flowers that are not adapted for making a, great 

 show, are yet well suited to, and general favourites 

 in, the drawing-room and boudoir. 



Vases and Baskets In the selection of 



vases for these rooms, those of medium size should 

 never be exceeded, unless the room be of unusual 

 proportions. We much prefer vases of small di- 

 mensions for every-day use; any vase that is 

 large enough to hold an ordinary-sized bouquet 

 being ample in our opinion. On special occasions 

 those of larger size could be used, perhaps, with 

 advantage when it is desirable to congregate a 

 larger quantity of flowers together. Greater variety 

 in form and material of the vases that are utilised 

 would be admissible, no two in fact need be alike in 

 anyway. Many vases that would be too massive 

 and heavy for the dinner-table could be turned to a 

 good account for special occasions. For general 

 purposes glass vases will be found the best in everv 

 way. Large-sized specimen glasses are very useful 

 for sprays of Orchids, or any special flowers that it 

 is thought desirable to keep by themselves. Vases 

 of china or other heavy material require greater 

 discrimination in the selection of flowers. Those 

 in which dark shades predominate should be chosen 

 for light-coloured flowers, and vice versa. Take, for 

 instance, one of the gorgeous blossoms of Magnolia 

 grandiflora, for this a vase either black or of dark 

 colour should be chosen, whilst for the Paeonias with 

 flowers of light shades of pink and rose, we would 

 prefer a dark blue vase. With a bunch of dark- 

 coloured Roses we should seek for a, receptacle of 

 pale tint. For the Tea-scented Roses of light shades 

 a vase of a bronzy or pale brown colour would give 

 a good contrast. 



Rustic baskets look exceedingly pretty when not 

 over-crowded, and are suited for Roses, Primioses, 

 Daffodils, and Anemones, with other similar flowers. 

 These baskets, too, have a most pleasing effect with 

 a few bvilbs placed in them during the spring time, 

 and some Selaginella to carpet the same, or a small 

 pot of a dwarf-growing Fern placed in the centre. A 

 few roots of the Primrose, or other spring-floweiing 

 plants, could be chosen as a change, with nice fresh 

 Moss or shoots of a small-leaved Ivy to entwine about 

 the same. Those flowers which are in most cases 

 only to be had with very short stems, such as the 

 Stephanotis and Gardenias, can be advantageously 

 arranged in n. flat dish, placing some Moss in the 

 latter with the necessarj' quantity of water. In such 

 dishes a few flowers of the Grardenias, and the Tea- 

 scented Rose Madame Falcot, look very well, each 

 with a little of their own folisige. 



