beg "and something green or gray for foliage." There come certain 
days when to the workers tying up the bunches at the flower table 
it seems as if only scarlet sage, magenta zinnias, lemon marigolds, 
and purple petunias are left to mingle their prismatic glories. Then 
a cry goes, up for white and green, plenty of it, soft feathery green — 
and it is astonishing what can be utilized in the small bunches that 
are customary. 
Sprigs of privet and box cuttings are glossy and attractive, sweet- 
briars can be trimmed here and there, while honeysuckles and clematis 
are all the better for the restraining shears. Ribbon grass, dusty 
miller, and bishop's weed are admirable, and asparagus and carrot 
tops both fine and feathery. Most popular of all, in certain circles, 
is the ever-present parsley, for it goes into the family stew pot when 
the flowers have faded. Everybody plants twice as much as is needed 
for home consumption, and it can be culled again and again; so send 
plenty of parsley. Mint is much desired. The distributors tell us 
the people fairly clamor for the bunches of flowers with mint. 
At the almshouse the poor old men deprived of their tobacco and 
stimulants find a sprig of mint cheering and sustaining, and a supply 
goes out there each week. 
Be generous with your white flowers — personally, I do not con- 
sider that we have enough in our own gardens as a usual thing. Grow 
a neat row of white candytuft in the vegetable garden, where it can 
be quickly sheared and tied in an abundant sheaf — it sends up new 
shoots, and last a long time. Rock cress, dame's rocket, alyssum, 
sweet peas, dianthus, gypsophila, phlox (second blooming), physo- 
stegia, Bouncing Bet, asters, scabiosa, and boltonia are usually avail- 
able, while from the fields one can get wild carrots, daisies, and asters. 
As the bunches sent are comparatively small ; tiny sprays are utilized 
which seem to you insignificant. The spring shrubs are very beautiful, 
deutzias, spireas, wigelias, viburnum, and lilacs can be generously 
pruned for the Flower Mission to their own ultimate advantage. 
When I lay stress on the need of white blooms, I do not intend to 
disparage their more brilliant brethren, for the latter are very popular; 
but it is the white that helps the color to carry its full glory to satisfy 
the eye. Only a saint indeed could look with gratitude from her bed 
of pain upon an African marigold artistically mingled with rose 
campion and veronica. 
With the "sweet" things we often have both color and green, and 
if we could find space to grow a few of the dear old herbs we would 
have material for many cuttings. Here I want to make a plea for just 
such things to be sent to the blind — so many grow that are the sweeter 
