THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
435 
Simplicity in Flower Arrangement 
SLMl'LlClTYinthc 
arrangement u f 
Howers is higlil\ 
essential if decorative 
effect is the aim. A 
few flowers simply and 
naturally arranged in a 
well selected vase, dish 
or bowl is more pleas- 
ing to the eye than a 
mass of blooms stuck 
carelessly into any- 
thing conveniently at 
hand which will hold 
water. 
Pottery manufactur- 
ers have responded to 
the demand for flower 
vessels which will per- 
mit of diversified ar- 
rangements simple in 
character, and the bet- 
ter stores in all cities 
now carry a line of 
dishes, bowls, vases, 
bud tubes and other 
vessels, in neutral col- 
ors, and in glass, and without design decoration. These 
articles may be had in grades of quality to suit every 
purse. -Much of this pottery and glass is "made ih 
America." and is quite as artistic as the imported. 
In the selection of a receptacle, the shape adopted 
should be the one best suited to holding the flowers in 
the position in which they naturally grow, as nearly as 
possible. It should have some characteristic in common 
with the ]ilant. but not such as to compete with it in any 
way. .\ lover of flowers recently remarked that she had 
one hundred and flftv-three flower vessels of different 
A small dish of Pafcr H'hitc Nar- 
cissus. The h abit o f .t;riwf/i of the 
subject is preserved and each flower 
stem is 'iiidi'i'idiialiccd. 
shajjcs and forms, and was desirous of addmg to her 
collection, .^he preferred to have a number of light ar- 
rangements of flowers rather than one or two heavy 
bunches in large vessels. 
We read very much nowadays of a so-called "Oriental" 
flower arrangement, but, really, the term "common 
sense" would cover the departure from the general plan 
of vase stuffing. The crowding of a lot of flowers into a 
\'ase might be excusable where a solid mass of flowers 
might be need for effect, but it could not be said that the 
eft'ect produced was pleasingly artistic. When cut flowers 
are arranged in a manner similar to that in which nattire 
arranges them, they are much more pleasing. Three or 
four flowers arranged in a flat bowl in such a manner 
that all the foliage on the stalks is visible, or, in the case 
of bare stems, added foliage is included sufficient to 
relieve bareness, create a natural appearance, even 
though the flowers, perhaps, did not grow that way. 
Small dish coiitaininr; three blooms of the iic-w rose Columbia. 
The dish is only seven inches in diameter. 
A low bozvl of Calendulas (Marigolds) in natural formation. 
The orange colored flowers make a splendid contrast 
zvith the different tints of blue in the bozi'l. 
The flowers should show a little difference in the length 
of the stems, to prevent straight line arrangement. If 
the arrangement is such that, in a case, say, where three 
flowers only are used, a triangular plan is visible, the 
eff'ect is much more artistic. Where many flowers are 
used, the same idea prevails ; in grouping, a triangular 
or pyramidal formation is tisually the best. 
Simplicity is very essential in making a centerpiece for 
a dinner table decoration. The best way to build a 
centerpiece is to make it in some kind of a low basket, 
using Bracken Ferns and Sphagnum moss, which are 
always obtainable at the florist's, for filling and lining. 
These are moistened, and provide a base for Roses or 
other flowers arranged in a natural way. In arranging 
the flowers it is often necessarj- to cut the stems, so that 
some flowers may be taller than others. Centerpieces 
may also be made with flowers all arranged in water, at 
very little expense, and the flowers will thus be as fresh 
