888 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ April 80, 18»i; 
pink flowers. The double form of this is a neat garden flower also. 
C. trifolia is an old plant in our gardens, having been introduced 
from Switzerland in 1G29. Parkinson tells us that “ It was sent 
me by my especial good friend John Tradescante, who brought it 
among other dainty plants from beyond the seas, and imparted 
thereof a root to me.” One can almost fancy seeing Parkinson and 
Tradescante meeting and comparing notes on the various novelties 
collected by both hardy plant groavers. 
Calliprora flava and Bloomeria aurea are two pretty bulbous 
plants, but must be noted as being of doubtful hardiness. With me 
both have succumbed to the severity of the past winter. The 
Calliprora which survived the winter of 1889-90 is, I fear, lost, 
and the Bloomeria, after making top growth, has rotted off close to 
the neck of the bulb. It is unfortunate that this is so, as the 
beautiful yellow flowers are very desirable. Both are natives of 
the United States. 
I see Primrose Munstead Early White has been exhibited at 
one of the recent meetings of the Floral Committee of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, and has been favourably noticed by the 
horticultural press. Miss Jekyll very kindly sent me a few plants 
last year, and I can speak very favourably of the variety on account 
of its earliness, compact habit of growth, and purity of colour. 
Where spring flowers are bedded out it will be a most useful 
plant. The stems are not so long as some, and for cutting from I 
have a fine seedling of my own which I should prefer. If Mun- 
stead Early White should come into the market lovers of the 
“ fragrant Primrose ” should secure it. 
Now that the Crocuses and Bulbocodiums have spent all their 
beauty for the season Romulea Bulbocodium grandiflora, which is 
not unlike them, has come into flower. The flowers are small, 
bright purple with a yellow base, and have sharply pointed petals. 
The leaves are grass-like in appearance, and are produced before 
the flowers. It has done well with me in light sandy soil planted 
about 3 inches deep, and has been without protection during 
winter. The flowers last only about a day, but as several are pro¬ 
duced in succession a few plants last in bloom a considerable 
time. 
I suppose the plural of Eremurus should be Eremuri, but it is 
probable that Eremuruses vdll be the one in general use. I have 
not met with any of these noble plants in bloom so far north as 
yet, but if they do not flo'wer in the neighbourhood of Dumfries 
before long it will not be the fault of some of the ardent lovers 
of hardy flowers, who are now fast increasing in number there. 
I am afraid, however, that none of the several plants in this 
locality are looking particularly happy. They appear to make 
growth too early, and to feel keenly the unkindly breath of this 
backward season. The tops of the leaves become brown, and 
further down yellowish. Few of the plants sold by nurserymen 
appear to be of a flowering size, and patience seems to be needed 
while waiting for flowers. My plant is E. robustus, and this and 
E. Olgac and one or two others are also in the district. Should 
anyone attempt to gi'ow these from seed I shoirld advise cutting 
through the hard outer cuticle of the seed. This will save nearly 
a season. Seedlings will be some years before they flower. I 
shall be glad to hear the experience of some growers of these fine 
plants.—S. Aiixott. 
[Our correspondent appears to have been favoured in the 
abundance of his outdoor flowers; here in the south they are 
making but slow progress, and even the Primroses are generally 
later and inferior to previous seasons.] 
MAKING SHOULDER-SPRAYS AND BUTTON¬ 
HOLES. 
In the majority of private gardens there is a great demand 
for these, and all young men should make the most of the 
opportunities they have of becoming adepts in this pleasant 
In-anch of their calling, as next in importance to the ability to 
grow fins plants is the art of displaying flowers to advantage. 
Another point to be considered, which requires tact and judgrnent, 
is to study the taste of those we have to please. Individuals differ 
so much in the colours they prefer and the type of spray or button- 
ho’e which comes up to their idea of perfection, that perhaps the 
true secret of success lies in possessing the necessary acumen to 
discern correctly the style that each prefers, and shape our course' 
accordingly, rather than keep too closely to rules generally con¬ 
sidered as standards of correct taste. Where sprays and button¬ 
holes have to be provided at the dinner table every night, if close 
attention is given to the matter the necessary knowledge is soon 
acquired, and I trust these remarks may prove useful to many who- 
desire information. 
All flowers and foliage used should be wired, as it is not only a 
saving of material, but each flower or Fern frond when wired can 
be bent into the exact position desired ; without wiring this is 
impossible. Among Ferns Adiantum cuneatum and A. gracillimunii 
continue to hold their own as the most suitable for the purpose ; 
the fronds should be as ripe as obtainable, otherwise the beauty of 
the flowers is marred by withered Fern before the evening is over. 
Where there is a good quantity of Asparagus plumosus or A.. 
tenuissimus to cut from these are preferable to Fern, on account 
of their lasting qualities, though many give the preference to 
Maidenhair Fern as far as appearance goes. For balls and parties 
the Asparagus should certainly be used, as it may be depended 
upon to last even longer than the flowers. 
In regard to the arrangement of colours a mis'ake frequently 
made is to use too many in each individual spray. This ofter 
renders them less effective than they should be, and where ai. 
accurate knowledge of the principles that govern the art of colour 
blending is not possessed it is by no means easy to steer clear of 
offending the eyes of ladies who have a thorough knowledge andt 
correct taste in the matter. This difficulty may, however, be 
overcome by using only one variety of coloured flowers, with tha 
addition of a few white ones and the usual greenery for each spray, 
such, for instance, as rose, pink, scarlet, or crimson ; these make 
simple yet still very effective combinations. But it is not at all 
times desirable to use these simple arrangements, as in the case ofi 
orange and yellow coloured flowers these require the addition of- 
blue or purple to be thoroughly effective, although unfortunately 
the last named colours have the disadvantage of not exhibitrng- 
their full beauty under artificial light. Some years ago I learnt 
the following pithy remarks upon this subject, which have been o£ 
great service since :—“ Pink should be separated from violet, scarlet", 
and crimson, orange from orange-yellow, and blue from mauve.” 
Another reason why many colours should not be used in each 
spray is that by so doing it is more difficult to give a distinctive 
character to each spray where numbers have to be made. I find 
that, as a rule, salmon and rose are preferred to pink, and deep 
scarlets to bright ones. Single pips of the many beautiful shades- 
of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums are exceedingly useful for cutting, 
and deserve to be extensively cultivated for that purpose alone, 
although they are also greatly admired when used in many other 
wajs. 
An important point to be observed in all floral arrangements is 
to pay due regard to form. This has a wonderful effect in giving 
finish. Colours may be ever so well arranged, if lightness and 
variety of form are wanting formality is the result. Small sprays 
of Spirrna japonica, Lihes of the Valley, Jasmines, Bouvardia'^, 
Cyclamens, Begonias, and many Orchids supply flowers that give 
good variety of form. In making them up care should be taken 
not to overcrowd them. Let each flower stand well clear of the 
other, with a few light sprays of Spiraea or Oncidium flexuosum 
coming up between, and protruding beliind to give a light surface,, 
using plenty of Fern to set the flowers in and hide wires. Some 
prefer sprays to be full in the middle, while others like them some¬ 
what flat, so that they fit close to the dress avhen worn. These 
are matters of taste which have to be considered. One end of 
each spray should be rather tapering, gradually becoming fuller 
towards the other end, wdiere it should be fullest, being finished off 
with good Fern fronds to hide the stem. In other cases both ends 
may be made tapering, and the spray fullest and widest in the 
centre. This can be accomplislied by working in the usual way 
till the fullest portion is completed, then the other end should be 
started as if it were to form a separate spray. When long enough 
fit up to the portion already made, and fasten the two stems under¬ 
neath with wires. With a little practice this can be done in a very- 
neat manner. The finishing touch is given by looking over each 
spray, and when the flowers appear crowded bending them apart 
from each other, and so regulating them that they point in different 
directions to take off anything approaching a formal style. In 
doing this the advantage of having each flower wired is very 
apparent. 
For buttonholes a Rose bud set in a leaf, a Gardenia with three 
.of its own leaves or Fern placed around it, or a Carnation or 
