BOUQUET MAKING. 
Arranging flowers loosely and prettily and naturally in vases and other ornamental receptacles 
for flowers, is a very easy work, requiring only good taste and some knowledge of the harmony 
■of colors. As a rule ladies do this work well, and need no suggestions from us. The filling of 
baskets is a little more difficult, because more 
formal or artificial. First, line the basket with 
tin foil, or scatter a little Lycbpodium or other 
;reen material, to form a kind of green lining, 
and over this put a lining of strong paper. If 
the basket is not so open as to show the lining, 
a simjDle lining of paper will be enough. Then fill the 
basket with damp saw-dust, rounding it off at the top and 
covering with damp moss, inserting the stems of the flow- 
ers in the moss. If the natural stems are not suitable for 
this work the flowei-s can be " stemmed," that is, fastened to sticks, as 
recommended for floral designs. It is well to give an edging or border 
mainly of green. Very few flowers have stems suitable for nice bouquet 
work, so it is the custom to " stem" all flowers, that is, give them artificial 
stems, and the material used for this purpose is broom brush or wire, to 
which the floM^ers are attached with spool cotton or fine wire. These stiff 
stems can be made to hold the flowers in any position desired. To keep 
the flowers from crowding each other, and also to supply moisture, it is 
usual to wind damp moss around the stem of the flower at its connection with the 
artificial stem. The central flower, which is usually the largest, must have a stiff, straight stem, 
as seen in the engraving, for this really forms the back bone of the bouquet, as well as the handle. 
Fasten the stems of all flowers around this central flower, as in the small engraving of a bouquet, 
as it would appear divided near the middle, showing the 
way the flowers are fastened to the main stem, as well as 
the manner in which they are kept from crowding each 
other. After the flowers are all properly attached, and 
the bouquet formed, cut off the handle to the desired 
length and 
cover this with 
tinfoil, or wind 
with ribbon, 
iii leaving a loop, 
so that the 
SECTION OF HAND BOUQUET. bouquct may be 
suspended if desired. Ornamental papers, prepared for the purpose, are very pretty, and can be 
obtained at a small price of most florists. These cover the handle and bottom of the bouquet, 
and also usually make a quite ornamental border. Our remarks are, of course, designed for 
hand bouquets, but larger bouquets are made in the same manner, except that they are more 
pyramidal in form. 
BOUQUET AND TRIMMING GREEN. 
In this section of the country, and in many others, the Cedars and Hemlocks are the most 
easily obtained, and are generally used to furnish the green foi decorative purposes in the winter. 
There are, however, two 
little plants [Lycopoditim?>) 
one known as the Ground 
Pine, and the other the 
Running Pine, and they are 
the prettiest things we know anything about for winter trimming, exceptim^, of course, Smilax, 
which is not to be had in large quantities. These Lycopodiums grow in partially shaded woods, 
in hilly places, and usually on a poor, sandy soil. The Ground Pine is used in winter for bou- 
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