PRACTICAL HINTS ON I-' I. ORAL WORK. 121 
will soon be idealized. Individuality is especially t<> lie commended when 
it is combined with and governed by good taste. 
Hut idealization can be carried to a point where it is ludicrous, as in 
the case of a wealthy old bachelor and an old maid, who were married in 
a prominent church. A unique affair was designed, consisting of two 
hearts, hung separately over the heads of the contracting parties on a sys- 
tem of wires, which were manipulated by the florist in charge, who was 
ensconced behind the pulpit. As the officiating minister pronounced the 
words which made the conplc one, the two hearts slowly vibrated along 
the wire until they met, when only one blood red heart was visible ! To 
say there was merriment in that church is to express it mildly. It domi- 
nated all the other features of the wedding. 
The better class of florists are endeavoring to raise the standard of 
that class of work denominated "emblems." So many grotesque things 
have been perpetrated under that name, so deficient in all that pertains 
to good taste, that the better class of patrons in our large cities are 
demanding a simpler blending of floral ideas. Vet emblems and designs 
will be to a larger share of onr population the thins, to have, for some time 
to come, and it behooves us to get up these in the best manner we are 
capable of, giving our patrons good work, and keeping apace and ahead 
of our customers in floral taste. Be original, but study adaptability. 
Educate your customers to your standard, rather than to theirs, and in 
the long run it will pa}' in dollars and cents, as confidence will soon be 
established in your ability to produce new and meritorious work. 
REQUISITES AND CONVENIENCES FOR WORK. 
For the sake of convenience, we have placed together the necessary 
materials required. They consist of the following : 
No. 36 iron annealed wire. 
" 22 
" 20 
Pine tooth-picks, pointed both ends, 2,500 in a box. 
Match-sticks, five to six inches long, in bundles of 100. 
Linen thread, unbleached, Xos. S to 25. 
Sphagnum, in barrels or bales. 
Green moss, in sheets. 
Tinfoil, in one pound packages. 
Pair tweezers, to use where it is impossible to use fingers. 
Scollay\s sprinkler, for spraying. 
Wire shears, and small shears for cutting ribbons, etc. 
The wire comes in coils ( usually a " stone" of twelve pounds \, wrap- 
ped in strong heavy paper to protect it from moisture. And, right here, 
allow me a word of caution. Some florists have a habit, when opening a 
new coil of wire, of taking out what they need for immediate use, and 
