276 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GAEDENING. 



None of the designs in this department of floral 

 decoration, except the rustic baskets and flat dishes 

 just referred to, need be dressed with flowers at the 

 base. In fact it is better that no such styles of 

 arrangement be chosen which of necessity require 

 this kind of filling : we would rather prefer, in a 

 general way, those vases which are elevated somewhat 

 above the immediate surroundings. In all cases also 

 avoid the error so often committed of over-crowding 

 the flowers ; better to choose another vase, and the 

 effect will be greatly enhanced thereby. Do not let 

 one vase be a counterpart of the other, avoid re- 

 petition as much as excessive crowding. If one 



arranged and placed near a window that is open 

 a considerable part of the day, the flowers and foliage 

 must of necessity fade the sooner. This caution is 

 the more requisite when we have to do with forced 

 flowers early in the spring ; these, by reason of being 

 pressed into flower out of their proper season, nave 

 not, as a rule, that persistency or power of resisting 

 this exposure which flowers have in their natural 

 season. The same caution is required in dealing 

 with tender exotics, during chilly weather especially. 

 The better way will be to place the flowers in a 

 position where this evil can be partially avoided, yet 

 not in proximity to a fire-place. Cut flowers are 



Fig. 5.— A Etjstic Basket pou the Boudoir or Drawing-room. {Filled with cut flowers.) 



variety, or species of flower, predominate in one 

 stand, see that the opposite is the case in the other. 



Flowers are coming to be much sought after for 

 bed and dressing rooms, especially as a welcome to 

 invited guests. Such flowers should be chosen with 

 forethought, avoiding those which have more than 

 usually strong perfumes, and in the case of one colour 

 predominating among the surrounding furniture of 

 the room, avoid that colour in particular. Small 

 specimen glasses with a solid base are the best in 

 which to arrange what few are required. There will 

 not, thus, be much room for artistic arrangement, 

 simpHcity being what should be aimed at. The 

 foliage used therewith should be of good lasting 

 properties ; in an emergency it can then be taken for 

 personal decoration with other flowers, if necessary. 



Preservation of Cut Flowers.— The mis- 



take is very often made of exposing cut flowers in 

 rooms to sharp currents of air ; thus, if a stand is 



oftentimes placed in small vases on the chimney- 

 piece ; this when the fire is alight is a great mistake, 

 worse even than the exposure to the draft. In lieu 

 of using fresh flowers in such a position, we would 

 urge all decorators to furnish their vases with ever- 

 lasting flowers and grasses, as recommended in a 

 previous ^chapter. With very choice flowers on 

 which special value may be placed, it is an excellent 

 plan to arrange them in a vase which when filled 

 can be covered with a glass shade. In this man- 

 ner their retention of colour and freshness will be 

 greatly enhanced. When each vase in its turn has 

 to be re-filled, some of the flowers, if necessary, can 

 generally be used over again, excepting in the sum- 

 mer months, when the quantity is more abundant. 

 Those flowers that are still fresh should have a little 

 piece taken off the end of the stem, so that the 

 fresh water given them is the more readily absorbed. 

 The water in which Stocks in particular, and some 

 other flowers also, are placed, is soon rendered 



