46 TOWN AND WINDOW GARDENING 



If we could read the annals of some of our great floral 

 lirms, we should be startled to see what immense sums 

 are paid for one month's decorations only by one family. 

 Several thousand pounds are soon dispensed, when the 

 flowers for a single entertainment have cost five hundred. 

 Orchids and Roses cannot be had in huge quantities for 

 nothing, and it is all good for trade, so nobody need 

 pretend to be shocked or call out about extravagance. 

 We all love the best when we see it, and why not secure 

 the same — those who can ? but I do not think that 

 people who have made their ball-rooms into bowers of 

 beauty, and transformed their houses into paradises for 

 one night, have done their duty till they have contributed 

 their quota to the street. 



Yet it never looks well when outside decoration is 

 overdone. All should be in keeping, and never an obtru- 

 sive glare. Here our foliage-plants come in well. They 

 look so good and so refined. A list of plants to choose 

 from may be useful. I will cull one from a paper on 

 " Plants for House Decoration," read by Mr. John Wills, 

 F.R.H.S., at a meeting of the Horticultural Society on 

 March 8th, 1892, and published January, 1903. Even 

 if one cannot remember the Latin names very well, it is 

 easy to make a copied catalogue to show our florist when 

 giving orders. He always does his best for those who 

 show an intelligent interest and appear to know what 

 they are talking about. 



Among Palms, Corypha australisy Latania horhonica^ 

 and Cocos Weddelliana are recommended, especially this 

 last ; it is so graceful and enduring, and has been known 

 to last for more than two years in a draughty room. 

 Kentia Belmoreana is another good plant of the same habit. 



Any of the following are also available for room or 

 flower-box decoration : Areca Baueriy and A. lutescens^ 

 Cocos flexuosa^ Geonoma gracilis^ Phcenix redinata^ P, tenuis 

 and Thrifiax elegans. 



