THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
99 
FLOWERS FOR WINTER BOUQUETS. 
I1E best flowers for winter bouquets are undoubtedly 
those of the stove and greenhouse, bright with colour, 
fresh with fragrance, and with the soft and subtle 
texture of active life in them. Genuine winter flowers 
are a privilege of the few ; for the many who cannot 
obtain them, dried grasses and everlasting flowers are of some 
service, and may be turned to wonderful account in the prepa- 
ration of elegant bouquets. We must not waste space in eulogy, 
but assume that flowers and grasses are required for winter bou- 
quets, and then proceed to the practical business of producing 
them. 
First, as to the cultivation. All the annual sorts, both of ever- 
lasting flowers and grasses, are best grown by sowing the seeds in 
light rich soil in March or April, and treating them just the same 
way as asters ; that is, in brief, insuring strong plants by the middle 
of May, and then planting them out. But if this is not convenient, 
they may all be sown on a rich light sunny border, in the early 
part of April. Every patch should be tallied, and a bit of seed of 
every sort kept in reserve. About the middle of May sow again any 
that have not, by that time, come up. By this plan you will be 
likely to secure all the sorts on which you speculate. 
As for greenhouse everlastings, they require good cultivation. 
As the best of these is the Aphelexis, a practical word on that may 
be useful. It is a difficult plant to grow, too much or too little 
water being pretty certain death to it. The soil should be good 
turfy peat, and plenty of silver sand. The pots should bo prepared 
with great care to insure perfect drainage. The plants must be 
potted firm, and with the collar slightly above the surface. 
Plenty of light and air are essential. The beautiful Phcenocoma 
requires similar treatment. As for the greenhouse Statices, they 
require a soil half loam and half peat, and a warmer and closer 
part of the house will suit them than the two plants first mentioned 
require. 
Next, as to gathering the flowers. Take them in all possible 
stages ; but by far the largest proportion should be young and 
scarcely fully expanded, as they are sure to expand in the process 
of drying. To dry them, lay them on papers in an airy warm 
place, .s taj'r from dust, and store them when dry in dry closets or 
drawers, where dust is as nearly as possible unknown. The 
grasses may be dried by simply laying them between folds of 
blotting-paper, or placing them between the pages of large, heavy 
books. Remember, “ practice makes perfect : ” the beginner is sure 
to spoil a few ; never mind, there will be many good ones to make 
amends. 
As to mounting, the grasses must be used in their natural 
state ; but it is best to mount the flowers on wires. This is a nice 
proceeding; but ladies generally acquire the art in haste. The 
finest steel wire is the best adapted to the purpose, and it is 
April. 
