178 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Some of the best and dwarfest varieties to grow for the front 

 plants are Maggie Mitchell, Fleur Parfait, Mawet Postula, 

 Mons. Freeman, Val d'Andorre, Triomphe du Nord, Chevalier 

 Domage, Criterion, Mme. de Sevin, Mile. Lacroix, Avalanche, 

 Mrs. F. Jameson, Barbara, Princess Beatrice, Hero of Stoke 

 Newhigton, Princess Teck, and others. In the case of larger 

 groups, of course a greater number of the same variety could 

 be used without causing a sameness ; but large bushy heads 

 of any one kind introduced neither adds to the merits or 

 the attraction of a group. The colours and sections should be 

 arranged evenly, without too much formality ; the flowers should 

 be of good quality, and not too crowded, but, on the other hand, 

 full enough to give solidity to the arrangement ; there should be 

 a natural freedom about it that would contrast most favourably 

 with a stiff and formal arrangement. I never use more than 

 three or four of one variety in a small group. The charm and 

 attraction is the variety it contains, and the searching out of 

 them, if they be of good quality and true to character, is a great 

 pleasure to visitors at an exhibition. In arranging flowers at 

 home one must be guided entirely by the construction of the 

 house and other circumstances. Most tasteful arrangements can 

 be made in a greenhouse or vinery provided with shelves along 

 the front or back of the house by first taking the stakes out of 

 the plants and standing the pots on the shelves, and tying or 

 suspending them to the wires and allowing the flowers to hang 

 over. By judiciously arranging a tall and short plant alternately, 

 a perfect bower of Chrysanthemums can be formed, although it 

 does not look so natural ; the incurved variety looks and keeps 

 well in this manner. In conservatories where Camellias are 

 planted out, the plants could be stood amongst them, the 

 foliage of the Camellias forming a good groundwork to the flowers 

 of the Chrysanthemums, which has a very pretty effect. I 

 need scarcely say that tall, naturally grown plants are the best 

 adapted for either of these arrangements. Where space will 

 admit in a conservatory, I prefer a good large bold group 

 arranged on the floor ; it has a more imposing effect, and in 

 greater contrast to the mixed groups of the usual summer occu- 

 pants of the conservatory. Palms or other foliage plants can be 

 used for the background, and some of the tallest should be 

 arranged loosely and freely at the back ; but, for the bulk, it 



