THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 
105 
of cut ones, is that with cut flowers of course they will take some 
time to arrange, and will not last fresh more at the most than a few 
days, whereas the growing ones only require the first arranging, and 
will last for a wonderfully long time ; those I have in use at present 
have been fitted up more than a month, and are only now beginning to 
look the least bit shabby. I shall describe those I have at present, as 
they may form a guide to be improved upon for any who may think 
of adopting this style of decoration. 
The centre stand is of the following shape : — the bottom is a 
round basket about six inches high and a foot across, round the 
edge of which is an open plait of basket-work, out of this rise three 
rods about two feet high, which are tied in at about six indies from 
the top and form a kind of tripod ; on the top of this, resting on the 
rods, is a small basket the same shape as the bottom, but not more than 
six inches across ; the w'hole of the wicker work is done with brown 
varnish, which preserves it ; if it were left white it would soon become 
soiled. The rods or tripod being so high, afford room to see through 
them, which is a great matter when it is to be used on the dinner- 
table. The other two stands are of a similar shape to the above, only 
they are not so large at the base nor nearly so high. The centre stand 
is filled as follows : — in the top a mauve-coloured cyclamen, round 
which are four tulips of a pinky mauve and white striped. In the 
centre of the bottom is a nice plant of Cyperus alternifolius, next 
four hyacinths, two pink and two flesh-coloured, and between these 
four tulips the same colour as those at the top. The two smaller 
stands I have made to match. In the top of each a white cyclamen, 
and in the bottom four pink tulips and four plants of Echeveria 
secunda placed alternately. 
I shall now explain how the roots of the plants and soil should 
be managed, as if this is not done properly the soil will keep running 
through the baskets, and, moreover, clay to be seen at the roots of 
the flowers would quite spoil the effect. The baskets should first 
be lined with moss, such as grows on the trunks of trees and old 
walls, next place some broken crocks, and then fill in with light soil 
and plant your ^flowers in it (in full bloom of course). When 
you have done this take some more moss of the same kind with 
which you have lined the basket, only pick out the freshest and 
nicest-looking pieces, and with these cover the soil quite over, so as 
to give the effect of the flowers growing in the moss. Water 
whenever you feel the soil become dry, but do not let the water fall 
on the blooms. It is best to lift the baskets out on some balcony or 
on the floor of the conservatory when you are going to water 
them, and if put on an inverted flower-pot or anything of that 
kind they will drain through much quicker than they otherwise 
wmuld do. Thus by taking a little trouble one can have flowers in 
the sitting-rooms all the year round ; those who have greenhouses 
for the trouble of fitting up the baskets, and those who have not at 
a very trifling cost. A. H. 
Upper Norwood. 
April. 
