I 



PLANT AND FLORAL DECORATIONS. 



"It /TUCHas we may admire plants growing in glazed structures and in the open air, it is 

 not in these positions where they are most appreciated, but rather, and necessarily 

 so in many instances, in the dwelling house and its immediate vicinity. A few, or many, 

 well-grown potted plants, notably those with ornamental foliage, associated with large 

 and small vases filled with cut flowers and greenery, add so much to the beautification 

 and enjoyment of a home, that their employment cannot be objected to on account of 

 the losses thereby entailed. As a matter of fact plants and cut flowers are, nowadays, 

 regarded as indispensable for house adornment, and out of the demand thus created 

 has grown a great industry that finds employment for thousands of men, women, and 

 boys. Private gardeners find this so-called " craze " for plants and cut flowers in the 

 house a little irksome at times, but if the care of the plants and the cutting of the 

 flowers wanted for vases were left to them, there would be fewer losses of valuable 

 plants to mourn, while the disfigurement of plants, frequently to be seen after 

 inexperienced individuals have cut flowers from them, would be obviated. It is now 

 generally conceded that plants purify the atmosphere instead of tending to render it 

 impure, and that the odours from flowers are not nearly so injurious as were thought at 

 one time. It is not the poorest of plants and the most rubbishy flowers that should be 

 employed in house decoration, but rather the best of everything, disposed in such a 

 manner as to show to the greatest advantage, due regard being paid to the surround- 

 ings and requirements of those who either own the establishment or are responsible for 

 the decorating. 



Eooms. — We can only generalize on the subject of room decoration, so much 

 depending upon the interior arrangements of a house. As a rule, well-grown plants, 

 large, medium-sized, or small, according to circumstances, are preferable to groups or 

 masses of plants for ordinary house decoration. For the most exposed positions the 

 hardier kinds of plants should be employed as much as possible, reserving those that 

 have been grown in strong heat for sheltered nooks, the rush of cold air housemaids are 

 in the habit of admitting early in the morning soon proving fatal to tender plants or 

 cut flowers. 



For the entrance-hall a few tall palms, notably Kentias Belmoreana and Fosteriana, 



