204 



CASSELL'S POPULAR UARDENING-. 



tlie manner of tying up is requisite, except it be to 

 say that the stakes should not be visible, or if they 

 are, not conspicuously so, and in tying sufficient 

 space should be left for the swelling of the stems — a 

 remark that is very necessary in regard to Eicinus, 

 Castor Oils, Tobacco, Wigandias, and other rapid 

 growers. The tying up of herbaceous plants is 

 usually of the worst possible description ; some one 

 has well described it as " Birch-broom-like." One 

 stick, and one tie, to a large mass of Delphiniums, 

 growing some six feet high, is not a likely object to 

 win over an opponent of mixed flower gardening; 

 but hapx^ily there is a better waj- of supplying 

 supports. As a rule, one stake is ample for a large 

 plant, however spreading it may be ; for if the stake 

 be put in the centre of the plant, and the string 

 or matting be secured to the stake, and instead of 

 one tie round the entire plant, the tying is divided 

 into three or more equal parts of the plant, all stiff- 

 ness will be avoided, and the plants will present 

 a natural appearance. The stakes in all cases when 

 possible should be quite hidden from -view. 



The constant removal of seeding and decayed 

 flowers, weeding when needed, the trimming up of 

 Box and other edgings at the right time, complete 

 the round of operations that is demanded of all who 

 aim at the highest keeping of the flower garden. 



DECORATIYE USE OF FLOWEES. 



By James Hudson. 



DINNER AND OTHER TABLE DECORATION. 



THE decoration of the dinner-table, or of the 

 dining-room, for breakfasts, dinners, and suppers, 

 has of late years made most rapid and progressive 

 steps, both in the quantity of material utilised and 

 in the systems of arrangement. 



The "Marsh" Stand. — It requii-es no great 

 stretch of memory to look back some twenty years or 

 more, when what for many years since have gone 

 tmder the name of the " Marsh" stands were first in- 

 troduced to public notice. These were a new depar- 

 ture from the massive and cumbrous epergnes of that 

 day, without which hardly any large dinner party 

 was considered complete. The " Marsh" stands, or 

 glass vases, had this term applied to them from an 

 exhibit of decorations by a family of that name, and 

 were much sought after for a considerable period 

 afterwards. They have a beautiful effect when ar- 

 ranged in a light manner with suitable subjects, 

 and since tneir introduction to public notice, great 

 additions have been made to the glass department 

 of flower- vases. There is now no lack either in size 



or qualit}', and a handsome glass vase may be pur- 

 chased for a few shillings, wherewith many, in ever 

 so humble a way, may beautify and render more 

 cheerful their dinner-tables and living-rooms. The- 

 "Marsh" stands consist of a glass dish as a base, 

 with a slender glass stem, from a foot to fifteen 

 inches in length, on the top of which rests a smaller 

 glass dish, and from the centre of this a cornucopia, 

 or trumpet-shaped vase. The advantage of a pro- 

 perly-made stand of this kind is the facility with 

 which it can be taken to pieces when not required 

 for use, and then be stowed away in safety. 



The bases of these stands are easily arranged, and 

 readily adapted to almost any kind of flowers. The- 

 stems look well with a climber entwined around 

 them, when using all but Lilies and, kindred subjects ; 

 but with these latter we decidedly prefer the Orna- 

 mental Grasses and Sedges, as being more appro- 

 priate. The upper dish of the two is the one in 

 which mistakes are most often made in arrangement. 

 The flowers in this dish should be kept as low as pos- 

 sible, for them to be seen by the guests sui'rounding 

 the table, not mounded up around the stem of th& 

 cornucopia, as is frequently done. In this latter 

 manner an obstruction is caused in the line of sight, 

 which, by using flowers with short stems, is avoided in 

 a great mcasm-e. A few pendent flowers look exceed- 

 ingly pretty suspended around the edges of this dish. 



The cornucopia should be filled with light flowers, 

 on slender stems. Those with spike-like form, as 

 in the well-known Astilbe japonica (generally grown 

 under the name of Spircea japonica), are the best. 

 Ornamental Grasses are very light and pretty for 

 the same purpose. When these are used, we gener- 

 ally prefer to ari-ange a sufficient quantity in the 

 first instance, when a few flowers can be dotted 

 among them, such as the Rhodanthes (pink and 

 white). A few fronds of Maiden-hair Fern, small 

 and light, should fringe the edge of this top glass, aa 

 also the central one, only with rather larger examples. 

 Of the less-known Adiantums, A. amabile is very 

 pretty for the top glass, and A. concinmmi for thfr 

 central dish. Both flowers and foliage should gra- 

 duate from the base to the top, i.e., the largest and 

 boldest of each should be used at the bottom, and 

 smaller forms upwards. In colours also it is well to 

 shade off from the bottom to the top. Take any 

 blue flowers, for instance ; the darker shades should 

 be placed at the base, and lighter ones upwards to 

 the top. 



Many of the smaller forms of Orchids, such as the 

 Oncidiums of the lesser section, and the Odonto- 

 glossums with small spikes, are xexj well displayed 

 in these vases. Individual flowers of the Moth 

 Orchid {Phalcenopsis) look beautiful when suspended 

 from the central dish. The slender and delicate 



