244 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 22, 1887. 
much taste in the same direction is Mr. William Low, 
gardener to the Duke of Grafton, Euston Hall, 'Jhetford, 
Suffolk. Though not so much known as an exhibitor as 
those already mentioned, his illustrated book on “ Table 
Decorations ” will render his name familiar to many who 
are interested in the subject. Mr. Low has made a 
specialty of the artistic arrangement of flowers in designs 
on the tablecloths, a fashion that has extended very much 
of recent years, and judging by the plans he furnishes 
some charming effects must have been produced. Of one 
distinct design the following description is given, and will 
serve to illustrate the style adopted:—“A table 12 feet 
in length and of the usual width of 5 feet 6 inches. The 
centre is adorned with three silver candelabra, and two 
jflants of Adiantum farleyense in silver vases. Two dishes 
of fruit were placed at top and bottom of the table anc 
four at the sides, making six dishes of fruit in all. Cut 
flowtrs in white china vases of uniform height were placed 
in a line with the dessert towards the ends, and were fur¬ 
nished with bright-coloured Geraniums and Bouvardia, 
with a few small fronds of Maidenhair Fern interspersed. 
The small circles represent small glasses filled with single 
scarlet Begonias, their own foliage supplying the greenery. 
On the tablecloth around the central candelabra was 
formed an eight-rayed star with straight pieces of the 
small neat glossy-leaved Cotoneaster microphylla, the rays 
being filled in with a finely cut fern-like leaf of herbaceous 
Pyrethrum, while close to the base of the candelabra were 
placed eight white Chrysanthemums on a fringe of green 
Lycopodium. The small circles between the rays of the 
star represent red Chrysanthemums resting on a base of 
Maidenhair Fern. The circle was formed of finely cut 
leaves of sweet-scented Geranium, on which were placed 
white alternated with yellow Chrysanthemums. The 
tracing is of the finely cut fern-like leaves of herbaceous 
Pyrethrum. The star-like figures around the bases of 
the other two candelabra were formed of Cotoneaster; 
within each ray was placed a frond of Maidenhair Fern 
on which rested a rose-coloured Chrysanthemum. The 
arrangement here is specially for autumn or winter, as 
will be seen from the fact that only Chrysanthemums are 
used on the cloth. For this reason this might be called a 
Chrysanthemum table or dinner, and these specific arrange¬ 
ments of one or more flowers only on the table at one 
time might be carried much further to the ensuring of 
greater distinctness and variety in the decoration of dinner 
tables.” 
In the ordinary arrangement of flowers in stands upon 
tables some regard must be paid to whether they are to 
be seen under artificial light or not, as this makes a great 
difference. Some of the delicately tinted flowers that 
have a charming effect by daylight are insignificant under 
gas or candlelight. Blue and purple tints, pale yellows, 
pale pinks, salmon or any undecided hues are usually un¬ 
satisfactory at night unless they are very carefully con¬ 
trasted with brighter colours. Generally speaking the 
scarlets, rich crimsons, and bright solid orange tints, clear 
bright rose, and similar, bold hues are seen to best effect. 
It is, however, a mistake to employ many different flowers, 
the too frequent result being a mixture of tints that 
partially obscure each other. Very beautiful effects are 
often obtained from the employment of one kind of flower, 
such as Roses or Carnations with some diversity of foliage; 
there is also a greater demand for fragrant flowers in this 
work, but not for such powerfully scented ones as Stepha- 
notis or Lilium candidum, which are liable to become 
unpleasant in a room. The employment of foliage needs 
a little thought and care, as an excessive liberality in 
Maidenhair Fern fronds repeatedly spoils good stands 
that as far as the flowers are concerned are admirable- 
Sufficient must be used to serve as a foil, to partially con¬ 
ceal the stands, and jet not overload them. Asparagus 
plumosus or Lygodium scandens are especially useful in 
this respect owing to their light lace-like effect, the latter 
being invaluable for twining round the stems or supports 
of epergnes or vases. 
As regards bouquets, wreaths, &c., the principal 
secret of success lies in the skill with which the flowers 
are individually displayed without undue crowding or 
thinness. The same materials in the hands of an unskil¬ 
ful or untasteful person and one accustomed to the work 
will result respectively in the production of a “bunch”' 
and a “bouquet” as totally distinct as it is possible to 
imagine. Both Messrs. Cypher and Chard are strong ia 
the bouquet classes, but Messrs. Perkins & Son of Coven¬ 
try hava been extraordinarily successful for some years 
past, and usually their bouquets are models both in the- 
selection of flowers employed and the style adopted. It 
is surprising that in amateurs’ classes these forms of 
floral decoration are too often the least satisfactory, and 
for that reason alone more encouragement should be given 
to them in the shape of prizes.—C. 
THE AMATEURS’ VINERY IN AUTUMN. 
When the days are bright and the nights genial in June, July, 
and August Grape-growing is a simple matter, as no artificial heat 
is required, and with a liberal supply of air and plenty of water at 
the roots the Vines will grow and the Grapes swell with very little 
attention ; but when September is declining, October and the 
winter coming on, and sunless days and long damp nights have to. 
be contended with, the attention to the Vines must be greatly in¬ 
creased. Some smill vinery owners grow early Grapes only, ripen 
them in July, and they are almost over by this time ; but others, 
and the majority, grow some late varieties, and all have a desire to 
keep them as long as possible. The Vines, too, require to be cul 
tivated until the foliage falls, and all who wish to succeed with, 
their Vines and Grapes must attend to them well during late 
autumn and early winter. 
Where water has been scarce this summer the Vines may not 
have had sufficient at the roots to keep the leaves quite green, and 
red spider and other insects may have attacked them ; but it is not 
a good time now to clear off these, as syringing cannot be done 
freely at present, and the insects may be left until the foliage falls 
and the Vines are cleaned. They will not increase now to any ex¬ 
tent, and will not become more harmful than they have been 
Syringing would spoil the appearance of the Grapes, and if the- 
weather were damp the fruit might be induced to decay. 
Thinning the shoots, however, should have attention. All 
Vines in a healthy state require to have their side shoots stopped 
often when they are beginning to grow freely in spring, then by 
midsummer they are not so much inclined to make new wood ; but 
by September many straggling shoots have pushed forth, and these 
often form a close mass of foliage close to the glass. This is very 
injurious to the Grapes, as it confines the moisture about them and 
obstructs both sun and air. The first operation should therefore 
be to cut away all these small rambling shoots, and only allow the 
strong growths to remain. In doing this do not allow any of the 
leaves to rub the fruit, or it will become greatly disfigured. None 
of the large leaves on the main shoots should be taken off until 
they are falling naturally, and all those cut off should be taken out 
of the vinery immediately. If there are insects in the vinery they 
are sure to be on these small shoots, and many of them will be 
cleared out with the branches. This work of clearing should not be 
done in a huny, but carefully, and so as to improve the appearance 
of the Vines. 
So much for foliage. Now for the roots. Iam sure no one can 
remember a season when the roots of Vines stood a better chance 
of suffering by want of water than they have this season. Where 
the roots are outside the rain waters them as a rule ; but there has 
been little of that this year, and in and near towns where many 
small vineries exist their chance of being watered has been equally 
bad, as in many instances water has been so scarce as not to be suffi¬ 
cient for domestic purposes. No doubt attempts have been made 
to keep them alive, and probably the surface of the border may 
have been kept moist ; but is there not a great danger of their 
