DECOEATIVE USE OF FLOWERS. 



133 



telles," and usually imported from the Continent. 

 Of annuals easily raised from seed, we have an ex- 

 cellent choice. The best are Acroclinium roseum 

 and its double form, also the white variety 

 A. alhxim. These have slender stems, and easily 

 arrange with the grasses afore-named. The purple 

 and white forms of Xeranthemum both single 



and double varieties, can be used in a similar way. 

 So also can the light and pretty Rhodanthes, both 

 pink and white varieties. The two forms of 

 R. maculata are probably of strongest constitution. 

 Their flowers should be taken for keeping purposes 

 just as the major part of the blossoms are about to 

 expand. The well-known Helichrysums are valuable 

 at all times whilst their flowers can be had, and being 

 of easy culture, come within the reach of the many. 

 For drying to use later on, the half -developed 

 buds, and those too which are about to expand, 

 will be found the best. These had better be sus- 

 pended in small bunches, or tied in rows on strings 

 to dry ; another good plan is to thrust the flower- 

 stalks through the meshes of a piece of fish-netting, 

 with the flowers upwards and exposed to the sun. 

 These are among the best of the tender annuals, re- 

 quiring slight protection if sown early. The Green- 

 house Annual, Gomphrena, or Globe Amaranth, in 

 two or three different colours, is another very pretty 

 addition to the list, very distinct from any of the 

 foregoing. 



From green -house plants, we have the Aphelexis 

 in various shades of purple and pink, and the 

 FJmnocoma. prolifera^ very similar in form, but quite 

 distinct in colour, being of a crimson shade. These 

 are both choice additions to any collection of ever- 

 lastings ; but, like many others, must not be left on 

 the plants till they are faded. Those that are re- 

 quired for drying purposes should be taken off as 

 f^oon as the centre of each flower begins to darken in 

 colour, looking somewhat like mildew. From the 

 green-house also there are the pretty forms of Sta- 

 tice ; the bright blue sheath-like envelopments of 

 the small white flowers retain their colour for many 

 months, without any trouble. Statice imbricata is 

 one of the best for these requirements, always per- 

 fecting an abundance of its large spikes. S. pro- 

 fasa, a smaller-growing form, is likewise most flori- 

 ferous, and of a paler shade of blue. Both species 

 are well worthy of cultivation for cut purposes 

 alone. 



From our hardy shrubs we can secure some assis- 

 tance, also as a reserve when fresh flowers are not so 

 numerous. One species of Sumach {Hhus Cotinus) 

 furnishes us with quantities of feathery spikes that 

 can be turned to a good account in cases of 

 emergency. The long shoots of the common Barberry 

 {Berberis vulffaris), when loaded with their pretty 



racemes of brilliant-coloured fruit, are a great aid. 

 Branches of the Strawberry Tree [Arbutus JJnedo), 

 when well cropped with their gaily-coloured bunches 

 of berries, make an effective arrangement by re- 

 ducing their surrounding foliage in a liberal manner. 

 The cut-leaved Brambles are another instance in 

 which both the foliage and fruit can be effectively 

 displayed. The handsome bunches of the latter, 

 when fully ripe, are no mean decoration with their 

 own foliage and some few other gaily-coloured, 

 autumn-tinted leaves as a contrast thereto. Among 

 hardy annuals there are some good ones that one 

 scarcely ever sees made use of to any extent. 

 Gypsophila elegans, and its rose-coloured form, are two 

 of the lightest-looking flowers imaginable ; insigni- 

 ficant, some may say, who know not their value as a 

 finish to floral decorations. Let such, however, try 

 the use of them a few times, after which we think 

 they will be more favourably impressed with their 

 utility. Cacalia coccinea (the Tassel Flower) is very 

 striking, and at the same time of much use. Cam- 

 panula Lorei, and its white variety, are two annuals 

 readily raised from seed, and very pretty for inter- 

 mixing with larger flowers. 



From the numerous classes of biennials, perennials, 

 and herbaceous plants, there are many kinds that 

 should be more grown than is often the case, to sup- 

 ply the decorator with a greater variety. It may be 

 well to enumerate a few that may advantageously be 

 added to any collection which does not already include 

 them. The newer kinds of Columbine are an instance, 

 of which Aquilegia californica hybrida, A. ccerulea 

 hybrida, and A. chrysm%tha are three of the best. 

 Chelone barbaia coccinea, a near ally of the showy 

 Fentstemons, is excellent for the cornucopias of glass 

 stands or epergnes, and with it may be used Gaura 

 Lindheimeri, whose spikes, with its pink and white 

 flowers, are always pleasing. Eumea elegans fur- 

 nishes us with another light and graceful subject for 

 using in a similar way. Salvia patens, with its rich 

 blue blossoms, can always find admirers ; and Spir(sa 

 Aruncus (Goat's Beard), if only moderately used (one 

 spike alone being enough), is always telling. During 

 the autumn months the Starworts in great variety 

 will afford a quantity of material for cut supplies. 

 Aster Amellus is one of the best of these pretty Daisy- 

 like flowers. The Japan Wind-flower {Anemone 

 Japonica), and its white variety, are both simply in- 

 valuable during the same season of the year. The 

 latter kind is one of the prettiest white flowers we 

 have. Bocconia cordata, with its immense panicles 

 of flowers, if not strikingly effective, yet supplies a 

 good amount of material for large stands and vases. 

 The spikes of the Ophiopogons (Snakes' Beards) are 

 very pretty when interspersed among flowers with 

 shorter stems. The dwarf varieties of Veronicas 



