264 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



found in smoking-rooms for a few plants in vases and some cut flowers, but billiard- 

 rooms frequently open into conservatories, and therefore need no decorating. 



Halls and Corridors. — For special occasions, such as public receptions, balls, and 

 concerts, rather elaborate decorations are needed in large halls, corridors, and reception- 

 rooms. Those light forms of embellishment that are correct enough in the case of ordi- 

 nary rooms, would be ineffective where large numbers of people are brought together ; 

 something on a heavier, bolder scale must be attempted. Not much can be done without 

 the aid of tree ferns, also kentias, seaforthias, arecas, and other palms, 6 feet to 12 feet 

 in height, towering lightly well above the other occupants of the room. Where they 

 shall be grouped must depend upon circumstances, but, as a rule, they are located either 

 at wide int ervals, along the sides of a hall, or at the ends and corners. Such plants alone 

 are not sufficient, and at the base of each, whether arranged either somewhat closely or 

 far apart, may be disposed a group of fme-foliaged and flowering plants, with abundance 

 of ferns and fresh moss to hide the pots, and to obviate stiffness of arrangement. If 

 fresh, bright moss is plentiful, it is a good plan to break up banks of plants into 

 small groups, and fill in the spaces and undulations between them with the moss. Ample 

 space being allowed, tiny attractive plants may be dotted about the moss, the whole 

 producing a cool-looking and attractive effect, very different to the old solid banks of 

 plants that have done duty in bygone years. Strips of virgin cork can also be turned 

 to good account in connection with large groups of plants. Large pots and pedestals 

 used for raising some of the more ornamental plants to a height at which they may be 

 seen to advantage, can be covered with cork, pockets also being provided for holding 

 small plants. In this way, large groups can be formed with only a comparatively few 

 groundwork plants, and these light, artistic arrangements admit of every choice plant 

 being seen to advantage. 



A few tall palms are sometimes effectively disposed in the fronts of galleries over- 

 looking halls — not in a continuous row, but in groups, equidistant from the centre and 

 outside walls, with perhaps a few plants to match them at each end. Trailing plants, 

 including ivy-leaf pelargoniums, tradescantias, ivies, smilax, asparagus, and grasses, 

 may be passed through the balustrade rails, and thus, suspended from the gallery in a 

 continuous line, add to the general effect. The pots inside the rails should be covered 

 with green baize or moss. Pedestals (Fig. 154) appropriately disposed in such or 

 similar positions, or in rooms, have, when tastefully furnished with palms, ferns and 

 trailing plants, a beautiful appearance, flowers being seldom employed in such 



