206 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAllDEXlNG. 



which develop a somewhat large spike, are best soon 

 in the same position. 



Other Glass Vases. — Another form of vase, a 

 modification of the "Marsh" type, and which wc 

 think is preferable to that for several reasons, is one 

 Avith a base similar to the " Marsh," but a trifle 

 smaller. From the centre of this lises a slender 

 stem, expanding- into a larger-sized cornucopia than 

 in the case of the " Marsh." This is, we think, 

 one of the best forms of glass vases for the dinner- 

 table that have yet been brought out. The long- 

 slender stem of the cornucopia is no obstruction to 

 the line of sight, and the arrangement of the base is 

 all the better displayed by the omission of the upper 

 dish. Flowers of larger forms can be more advanta- 

 geously arranged in such as this, whilst spikes of 

 small size from the Gladiolus and the Iridieeeous 

 plants are just adapted for such a form of vase. The 

 large handsome blossoms of the Cactus {C'e,r/(s spccio- 

 si.\sunus) and the White Water Lily, with hosts of 

 other flowers of bold outline, are effectively ar- 

 ranged in the base, whilst there is room for a display 

 of appropriate foHage interspersed amongst them. 

 When climbers are used for the stems, they also will 

 be seen to better advantage with the greater length 

 of glass to be clothed. 



Long drooping spikes of slender outline will look 

 well around the edge of the trumpet — such, for in- 

 stance, as Thyrsaccoithus rxfilaus, Fliinihago rosea, 

 Chorozcma Chcoidlcri, and the pendulous forms of the 

 tuberous-rooted Begonias. The individual blossoms 

 of the smaller kinds of Passion-flowers {Fassi/Iora) 

 are extremely pretty. P. kernicsoia of the stove 

 species, and F. ccerulea among the hardier kinds, arc 

 two of the best, and ^dll both have good effect when 

 used in a similar manner to the other flowers just 

 mentioned. A small spike of FInmea elccjans or 

 Spircea Ar uncus will look well in the trumpet, with 

 a few colours to contrast. The top arrangement can 

 well afford to be carried to a fairly good height, 

 to prevent any dumpy appearance when finished. 



Fig. 3 is drawn from such a vase of flowers 

 specially arranged to illustrate this article. Tiie 

 base thereof is arranged with a mixed assortment 

 of flowers, most of which are readily discernible 

 in the engraving. Of exotic flowers there are 

 Eucharis amazoiiica, Authuriuiu Schcrzvrianum, and 

 iJcndroblum nohlU ; of bulbous plants, the Poet's 

 Narcissus, Red Tulips (Vermilion Brilliant), Cam- 

 pan elle Jonquils, Lilies of the Valley, and Anemone 

 fuhjens. The foliage used in conjunction with the 

 flowers is, of Ferns, Adiantum cardioclilmna, A. 

 macrophyllum, and A. cuneatum ; the carpeting or 

 undergrowth consisting of Fanicum varicgatum. 

 The cornucopia is filled with flowers of Fcgonia 



hianlcata and B. nltida odorata, with Thyrsacanthws 

 ruillans and F)cutzia graciiis as pendants; and, of 

 foliage, a long trailing growth of FaulUnia thalic- 

 triJ'uHa, with fronds of Adinntuin cuneatum, and one 

 or two medium-sized Begonia-leaves. 



There are also trumpet-shaped glass vases without 

 any means of arranging flowers at the base. With 

 sucli it is easy to contrive a temporary receDtacie for 

 tht'sc ends by placing the vase in an ordinary dinner- 

 plate, and firmly fixing it there with some string. 

 We haA e often done this, and it answers the purpose 

 as well as a properly constructed vase. When usea 

 without the bottom arrangement, these trumpet vases 

 form an excellent medium whereon to arrange extra 

 long shoots of climbing plants— such, for instance, 

 as r(.s-.s7^s- d isco' or —■d]\o\\'m^ the shoots to trail on the 

 cloth. Asjji(r/////(s plumosus nanus, again, would be 

 extremely pretty in the same position, wliilst in the 

 trumpet itself a shoot or two of the narrow-leaved 

 Crotons of pendulous growth would be well placed. 

 The tufts of the Cyperus altcrnifolius, with a good 

 length of stem, could also be used in unison with a 

 few flowers of spike-like formation or of di'ooping 

 h;iliit. suih as the slender spikes of Chelone barbata, 

 ■AvA tliL' routstemons, or a small panicle of one of the 

 smaller forms of Lilium during the summer months. 

 In the early spring the slender spikes of the Roman 

 Hyacinth, with the many and varied forms of Nar- 

 cissus, to be followed by Solomon's Seal, of which 

 the smallest growths are jDreferable, wall each and 

 all be foimd adapted for such an arrangement. 



The essential point in all dinner-table decorations 

 of this description is to secure for the trumpet 

 arrangement as light an appearance as possible. 

 This is A'ery frequently overlooked by decorators 

 in filling tbeir vases. These would have a far 

 l)rettier eft'ei't in many cases if about two-thu'ds 

 of the flowers were never used at all. We have 

 often seen the trumpets of such designs out of all 

 proportion to the rest of the stand, looking some- 

 what like a huge bouquet placed on the top. The 

 great secret with these and all other decorations is, 

 to know H-Jien to leave off, and without this gift the 

 utmost effect cannot be extracted from any given 

 amount of material. 



Of glass vases that ought to bo avoided in dinner- 

 tal)le decorations, it is necessary to say at least a 

 few words. It is a mistaken idea to think that, be- 

 cause a flower- vase is a flower-vase, it is therefore 

 adapted for the dinner -table. Such is by no means 

 the case. ]Many designs are met with which are 

 very pretty of themselves, and when filled with 

 flowers also look well, but are not suitable for tahl-c 

 decorations by reason of the density of appearance 

 they present, thereby causing an obstruction of view 

 across the table to a most considerable extent. Such 



