652 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



used, and to the size of the other objects which 

 are to occupy the same table. There are some 

 forms of vases that look well in a drawing-room 



Fig. 778.— Sectional view of a Convertible Dinner-table Vase. 



which are quite unsuitable for a dining-table ; 

 while of the many beautiful forms of dinner- 

 table vases now to be met with, there is pro- 

 bably not one that would be out of place in a 

 drawing-room or a boudoir, provided that the 

 table upon which it is to be placed is of appro- 

 priate size and that the surroundings are suit- 

 able. 



The annexed engravings (figs. 778, 779) re- 

 present a useful form of vase for many pur- 

 poses, and for most kinds of flowers. The 

 pedestal is 5 inches high, and its foot is 5 

 inches in diameter. Into this pedestal is 

 screwed a trumpet- vase 17 inches high and 5 

 inches across the top; thus making the whole 

 height of the vase 22 inches. Upon the upper 

 part of the pedestal rests a thick glass collar 

 containing six holes, into an}' of which can be 

 placed the two kinds of branches indicated as A 

 and B, of which three of each are provided. 

 The top of the branch-vase A is 9 inches above 

 the table, and the lowest part of its supporting 

 arm descends to 3 J inches from the table; its 

 rim is 3 J inches across, and its edge is 3 J inches 



from the central stem. The top of the branch- 

 vase B is 7 inches, and its lowest point is 2J 

 inches above the table; its rim is 3 inches 

 across, and its edge is 2 inches from the central 

 stem. 



The diagram shows the two sets of three 

 branch-vases arranged alternately; but from 

 the nozzles of the branches being all of one 

 size, this arrangement admits of various modi- 

 fications, depending upon the place where the 

 vase when furnished is to be used, and the kind 

 of flowers it will contain. For the centre of a 

 table three or six branches may be used, or it 

 may be used without any branches, and the 

 foot might then stand in a soup-plate or other 

 round dish. If three branches be used, they 

 must all be of one form. But if it is to stand 

 on a side-board, where it only requires to be 

 " dressed to one face ", there is then the option 

 of employing either six, five, three, or two 

 branches at one time. If wanted for a mantel- 

 piece, it would probably be found best to use 

 one of B between two of A, which would bring 

 the three branch- vases nearly in a straight line. 

 For a still narrower shelf a pair of either A or B 

 placed opposite to each other would be found to 

 be the best arrangement. 



Other forms of flower-stands are shown at 

 figs. 780-783. 



Arrangements of Flowers in Vases. —Beautiful 

 groupings of flowers are easily made by persons 

 possessed of good taste and experience, and 

 who therefore have a great advantage over 

 others who have not paid any attention to the 



Diagram showing mode of arranging the Branch Vases. 



subject. To the latter a few general directions 

 may prove useful. 



Supposing, for convenience of illustration, 

 that the flowers are to be arranged in an Ex- 

 hibition Vase (that is, with a dish at the foot, a 



