ON TABLE DECORATION FOR EXHIBITION AND THE HOME. 493 



ON TABLE DECORATION FOR EXHIBITION AND 

 THE HOME. 



By Miss H. C. Philbrick, F.R.H.S. 

 [Read before the Chelmsford Gardeners' Association.] 



Who loves not Knowledge ? Who shall rail 

 Against her beauty ? May she mix 

 With men and prosper ! 



So sang one of our greatest poets. And who will not echo it ? " Know- 

 ledge is power," and if we will take Nature for our teacher and guide, the true 

 Knowledge will be ours, the commonest things will grow beautiful, and 

 while we sit at her feet things practical will be invested with a new 

 delight. 



It has been said, and wisely too, I think, that wherever flowers grow 

 wild the effect is always charming, the grouping, massing, and blending 

 being perfect. In due sequence all flowers are a delight and a refresh- 

 ment : their office, however, is to soften and soothe by contrast. For 

 grouping, let us take Nature as our guide, watch her in the hedgerow and 

 the coppice, and see how marvellous are her effects. Note also in the sky 

 the wondrous lessons taught us in the grouping of the clouds and their 

 perfect harmony of colour. 



Nature never did betray 

 The heart that loved her ; 'tis her privilege, 

 Through all the years of this our life, to lead 

 From joy to joy. 



Linnaeus (and to his everlasting honour and glory be it recorded) once 

 came suddenly upon "a host of golden Daffodils," and burst into tears. 



And now you will want from me a few hints as to arranging flowers, 

 for exhibition and in your own homes. Well, if, as I hope, you have drunk 

 something of the spirit of Nature before you set about your work, you can 

 not go far wrong. It is those who pack flowers close together, or without 

 foliage, or who form unnatural associations like Primroses and Orchids, 

 Snowdrops and Allamandas, who go so egregiously astray. Think as you 

 set out to arrange your flowers, " What would Nature suggest ? " and then 

 the result can hardly be anything but good. 



And first as to the mingling of flowers and foliage. Nature never 

 gives Roses Fern-leaves, or Carnations Rose-leaves ; and whilst admitting 

 that all rules have exceptions, there are wondrous few exceptions to the 

 rule that no foliage suits a flower so well as that which Nature gives it. 



Be very careful, also, how you mix different flowers together. Different 

 varieties of the same flower almost always mingle well, but it is rare 

 indeed to find a vase of mingled kinds surpass or even equal a vase con- 

 fined to one kind only. The very idea, for example, of Roses and Corn- 

 flowers mixed together makes one shudder, whereas few things are more 

 beautiful than either of them alone. 



