338 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GAKDENING. 



of other flowers also, the same rule should he followed 

 where practicahle. "Where it is not possible to use 

 their own foliage, as in the case of JSucharis ama- 

 zoniea, other leaves may he substituted; when in 

 season, Caladium argyrites wUl be found of much 

 service in this way, going well with the Eucharis. 

 Of other useful things in the making of bouquets, 

 nothing surpasses the tips of the shoots of the Box- 

 leaved Myrtle {Myrtus communis anffustifolia) ; the 

 common Myrtle, too, is very useful for working in 

 between the flowers. When these cannot be ob- 

 tained m suflicient quantity, some foliage and yoimg 

 growths of the finely-cut-leaved scented Geraniums 

 will be found of great value in preventing the 

 flowers from being pressed too closely together, 

 being better in every way than using Moss for this 

 purpose. 



Avoid the placing of any flowers in an unnatural 

 position ; thus with Lapageria blossoms, more often 

 -than not they are aixanged in the centre, or in ijroxi- 

 mity thereto, of the bouquet. It does not follow 

 that because the Lapagerias (both the red and the 

 white varieties) are such handsome flowers they 

 are adapted for bouquet-making. It wiU be well 

 to consider for just one minute in what position 

 a plant of JLapageria in full blossom displays its 

 flowers to the best advantage. Most floral admii-ers 

 win admit that it is when the flowering shoots 

 are allowed to hang suspended from a wire arch or 

 flat trellis-work in such a way that their beauty can 

 be seen from below them. This being so, the mis- 

 take of using the flowers in an inverted position will 

 .at once be discernible. The more we can copy the 

 natural habit of the flowers to be dealt with, the 

 "better wiU be the eft'ect of the arrangements. There 

 are exceptions of course, but these are few in com- 

 parison to the other side of the question. Use the 

 Lapagerias therefore around the margin of the bou- 

 quet, so that their flowers hang as pendants to the 

 same : unless, however, the bouquet be of more 

 than average dimensions, it is a better plan not to 

 use them at all. Flowers of tube-like formation 

 should as a rule be avoided, such as the Gloxinias for 

 example ; these beautiful flowers cannot be arranged 

 to advantage in a bouquet by reason of their shape. 

 "With the utmost care the other surroundings wiU 

 press them too closely, unless they are arranged 

 above the other flowers, but for this they will be 

 found too large. These remarks do not, of course, 

 refer to small flowers of this shape, such as Stepha- 

 notis and Bouvardias, which are always welcome. 

 Another awkward flower for a bouquet is the Bou- 

 gainvillea ; its peculiar-shaped floral bracts are very 

 pleasing, hut not calculated to do the plant justice 

 for these purposes, neither is it of a colour that har- 

 monises with any other but white. 



Wiring.— The wiring of many kinds of flowers 

 indispensable for bouquet-making is necessary, by 

 reason of the short available stems with which they 

 can be detached fi-om the plant. This wiring pro- 

 cess must be done in a careful manner, so that no; 

 such things are visible when the arrangement is 

 complete. "Wire of various strength can be had from 

 nurserymen and florists, specially cut into lengths 

 for these purposes. Three sizes at least will be found 

 requisite in most cases : the stoutest, called " stubs," 

 as artificial stems ; the next size, more pliable, for 

 wiring the flowers ; and the finest, or binding vrire, 

 which is sold on reels for better convenience. This 

 last kind can be used to bind the bouquet together 

 as the making process is being carried out, but is not 

 perhaps so well adapted for this work as the tying 

 material called "rafiia." We prefer to use this 

 binding wire for the stems of delicate texture, for 

 which purpose it is very handy. Some small twigs 

 wiU make very good artificial stems for the larger 

 flowers ; for this it is better to select the slender 

 shoots of such plants as the Snowberry (Symphori- 

 carpus racemosus), and the common Nut, or the 

 Persian Lilac. These shoots can be made pliable by 

 entwining some of the wire around them, and will be 

 found easier to secure in position than a single piece 

 of wire, which cannot always be held in its place 

 sufficiently tight to prevent its moving about. A 

 little wet Moss may be tied around the natural stem 

 of the flower to better preserve the same in good con- 

 dition ; this can easily be accomplished as the vriring 

 process is being canied out. 



A few remarks as to the wiring of flowers will not 

 be out of place. In doing this, great care is necessary 

 not to disfigure those flowers which are easily injured 

 if not handled cautiously. The best way to proceed 

 with such as the Eucharis, is first to fold a piece of 

 tissue paper around its slender and deKcate stem, 

 after which bind this on with the finest wire ; no 

 fear need then be apprehended of the larger size of 

 wire cutting through the stem and spoiling the 

 flower. Other flowers with which there is any pro- 

 bability of the same sort of thing occurring may be 

 served in a similar way. Several of the Orchidaceous 

 plants have blossoms with very slender f oot-stiilks ; 

 these will all be better for such purposes if served in 

 the same manner. In the ease of Roses two wires 

 will be suflicient ; these should be thrust through 

 the seed-pod at right angles to each other, and not 

 through the lower part of the petals, as some are 

 accustomed to do it. With Camellias, however, it is 

 necessary to pierce the lower parts of the petals with 

 the wires ; two will suffice for an average flower, 

 three for an extra fuU one ; by taking the flower in 

 the left hand, the petals can be gently pressed to- 

 gether should the same he f uUy expanded. It is the 



