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CASSELL'S POPULAE GARDEisI^'G. 



will be adsdsable to cover the inside of the cap with 

 a piece of oiled paper or silk ; no stain or moisture 

 will then be so likely to penetrate the same, which, 

 if preserved in good condition, can be made to do 

 service a few more times. When using the little 

 basket holders, in order to draw the handle of 

 the bouquet tightly into them, a piece of string 

 should be securely tied to the bottom of the handle 

 and passed through the small end of the holder. 

 This will draw it close, when it can be fastened with 

 the string at the bottom, and by the use of a stout 

 pin or two at the top, to be afterwards hidden by the 

 ribbon, which should in a general way be white. 



Bridal Bouquets,— Bridal bouquets are, more 

 frequently than not, made entu^ely of white flowers ; 

 in fact it may almost be taken as the adopted rule. 

 White flowers may be looked upon as denoting purity 

 and chastity ; hence probably they s^miboHse these 

 virtues on such occasious. AVe do not think the one 

 colour need be so rigidly adhered to ; flowers of pale 

 and of deep golden shades may with appropriateness 

 be used ; some of the Orchids being especially well 

 suited for the purpose, notably the Dendrobiums, the 

 Oncidiums, aud the Odontogiossums, in which this 

 colour predominates. In Conlogyne cristata we have the 

 pure white and golden hues combined, this being one 

 of the best of all Orchids for these purposes. The 

 Tea-scented Eoses, with flowers varying from the pale 

 yellow of Marie A"an Houtte to the dark apricot 

 shade of Madnme Falcot, are aU most suitable in the 

 bud state. We can see no objection to flowers of a 

 soft pale pink being employed as well as those shades 

 of colour just mentioned. Orange-blossom is looked 

 upon as being very essential in these composit.ons ; 

 when this article is scarce, the small quantity that is 

 used ought to be woiked in near to the centre, where 

 it will more readily catch the eye. Eather more 

 foliage may advantageously be worked into the com- 

 position of bridal bouquets when they consist wholly 

 of white flowers. 



Another novel change from the stereotyped form 

 of bouquet-making, and one which we think will 

 meet with greater approval when better known ( espe- 

 cially for wedding festivities), is in the selection of 

 light ornamental baskets of wicker-work wherein to 

 arrange the flowers. These can be carried with far 

 greater ease, being more portable. The convenience 

 of the basket over the bouquet form will, we think, 

 be appreciated for placing on the "breakfast " table 

 afterwards, which alone is suflicient to recommend the 

 style to the favourable notice of all floral admirers. 

 We strongly recommend a trial of this system by 

 those who desire to see a novelty of considerable 

 merit displayed on these auspicious and joyous oc- 

 casions. Bridesmaids' bouquets should differ only in 



point of colour from the bride's. This addition of 

 colour- is generally regulated to suit the dresses that 

 are worn. White flowers, how^ever, should be the 

 predominating feature in their arrangement. 



Ball-room Bouquets. — Bouquets for the ball- 

 room and other evening entertainments have often- 

 times to be made with the same regard to the dress as 

 in the case of those we have just commented upon. 

 The desired colour should be approached as nearly as 

 possible : a shade lighter rather than a shade darker 

 is preferable w^hen diflicult to match. We have pre- 

 viously stated that these bouquets should not exceed 

 the avoT age size, and given the reasons for the same. 

 They should be made as light as possible in every 

 way, using scarcely any Moss or other mateiial round 

 the stems, keeping the handle as small as prac- 

 ticable. AVhen no limit is placed on the colour in 

 such compositions, two shades besides the white will 

 generally be sufficient, although some of the prettiest 

 arrangements we have seen have had only two 

 colours used in making them — i.e., white and another 

 shade. Blue should be avoided as much as possible 

 in all bouquets that are to be seen under artificial 

 light ; the nearest approaching shade that looks well 

 is to be found in the lovely blossoms of the stove- 

 flowering plants belonging to the genus Franciscea. 

 These arc not, how^ever, always easily to be had 

 when wanted. When it is necessary to use blue 

 flowers, those of a light shade wiU look the best. 

 The buds of the Tea-scented Eoses of diversified 

 shades and tints will be found as useful as any 

 material for these kinds of bouquets, all of which 

 will associate well with white flowers. 



Presentation Bouquets. — With bouquets that 

 are intended for presentation, the arrangements 

 should be made as varied as possible. The best 

 flowers that are obtainable should be employed in 

 their composition ; a greater variety, too, will be 

 admissible by reason of their extra size. Use every 

 means, both by the employment of Moss tied round 

 the flowers with short stems to keep them fresJi, 

 and by securing long stems in aU possible cases, 

 so that the bouquet is not disappointing to its pos- 

 sessor after he or she has had it only a few hours. 

 In the case of impromptu nosegays, or bunches of 

 flowers, long stems should be used on every con- 

 ^•enient occasion. The best thing to be done with 

 such as these will be for the possessor to undo them 

 carefully from the bunch and re-arrange into vases 

 in a loose manner. 



Flowers are frequently presented to the sick, 

 and no more appropriate use could well be made 

 of them, yielding a solace and a balm to those 

 in pain, and inducing for a time the languid 



