December 20,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
555 
C HRISTMAS is celebrated by all civilized nations by acts of 
hospitality and feelings of rejoicing. The dreary blackness 
of a foggy winter’s day seems sometimes to make a feeble attempt 
to rob the season of its brightness ; at others the pure whiteness of 
the fleecy snow shrouds the whole surface of the landscape with 
that unique beauty which we in Britain seem instinctively to look 
for at Christmas time. The elements, however, may often play us 
false in this direction without affecting in the least degree the 
festive spirit which shows itself in joyous mirth within so 
many homes of England, but, alas ! not in all. 
Those persons who are blessed with a good share of wealth 
gather within their stately halls a numerous company of guests, 
and by the aid of flowers and plants required on such occasions for 
various forms of decoration the prosperity of horticulture is 
largely advanced. The most suitable flowers at command for the 
purpose do not vary greatly in succeeding years, hence it requires 
a considerable amount of ingenuity on the part of the decorator to 
invent some methods of arrangement which will produce an effect 
not less beautiful, but as dissimilar as possible from the styles of 
previous years. It is not an easy matter to make startling changes 
in this direction, especially if called on to do so at a very short 
notice. At Christmas time, however, so many gardeners have to 
decorate dinner-tables for a series of parties, that it behoves them 
to have some scheme in readiness. With the object of endeavour¬ 
ing to help those who may require assistance in this direction these 
lines are penned. 
Holly is so unusually well berried this year that a strong 
feature might be made with that and Mistletoe on the festive 
evening without the aid of a single flower. A couple of plants 
of Cocos Weddelliana and three of Pandanus Veitchi will be the 
only other materials necessary. Use the largest Pandanus for the 
centre, raising it just high enough for the arching habit of the 
leaves to be seen to advantage. Along the centre of the table 
3 or 4 feet distant from this place the Cocoses ; these should have 
rather long stems, so the fronds will rise above the heads of the 
guests when seated, and thus not obstruct the view across the table. 
Two smaller Pandanus should next be placed near the ends of 
the table. If only three plants are required, let a Cocos form the 
centre, with a Pandanus on each side. Then proceed to trace the 
outline of the available space of the tables with green Holly leaves 
in the form of a series of flowing curves, not necessarily regular 
ones. The points of the leaves should protrude here and there to 
avoid stiffness. Spaces should be traced out for the dessert dishes 
when it is the custom to place such on the table. Little bundles 
of green-leaved Holly with plenty of berries, variegated Holly, and 
Mistletoe, may next be made into the form of sheaves. From 
three to five good pieces will be quite enough for each bundle, as 
they ought to look as light as possible. A band for each is easily 
formed by wiring a few small tops together. These should be 
twisted and fastened after the time-honoured method employed 
for hand-bound sheaves of corn. When a dozen or so of these 
bundles have been prepared they may be dotted about the table as 
the taste of the decorator may dictate, but, of course, having them 
sufficiently wide apart to avoid an appearance of overcrowding. 
The sheaves of green-leaved Holly and those of Mistletoe ought 
to be surrounded with a broad band of variegated Holly, and the 
No. 756.— VoL. XXIX., Third Series. 
whole of the remaiuing space on the table covered with the shoots 
of well berried green-leaved varieties. 
On another occasion a delightful effect may be obtained by the 
exclusive use of Christmas Roses, foliage, and Ferns. In this case 
it will be a great advantage to have scarlet silk placed along the 
centre of the table. Around the edge of this small tops of 
Rhododendron pontijum form an effective tracing if dotted at 
intervals of 4 or 5 inches with Hellebore flowers. A few graceful 
green-leaved Palms, placed in china vases, gold or silver bowls, or 
cups, are well adapted for placing along the centre of the table 
between the candlesticks. Low glass or china bowls are convenient 
receptacles for placing the remainder of the flowers in, associating 
a few Fern fronds and Rhododendron tops with them. These 
latter so nearly resemble Hellebore leaves as to strongly recommend 
them for the purpose. If suitable bowls are not at command 
the flowers look extremely well when arranged on small mounds 
of moss, with the foliage previously mentioned intermixed with 
them. 
The bright scarlet bracts of Poinsettias are greatly prized by 
table decorators, and this is no matter for surprise, seeing how 
showy and unique in appearance they are. When these are 
employed I prefer to have a bowl for the centre; if this is half 
filled with wet sand, and the top of the receptacle covered with 
wire, it is an easy matter to fix the flowers in position—an 
important point to consider -when using anything so “top heavy” 
as Poinsettias. If a few pieces of Box are inserted through this 
wire top before the work of arranging the other materials begins, 
it enables the whole to be lightly done without showing the base of 
the stems. Any fronds of Nephrolepis tuberosa and pieces of 
Cyperus alternifolius are suitable for mixing with the Poinsettias, 
and one of the many varieties of Adiantums supply fronds of the 
right character for finishing around the edges of the bowl. Lumps 
of pliable clay, placed in plates or on pieces of cardboard, prove 
extremely useful for holding the bracts in position where isolated 
ones are wanted for dotting about the table, and when it is 
desirable to form a low bank of them around the base of a candle¬ 
stick the same method of fixing answers admirably, but, of course, 
the base should be covered with moss or other kind of greenery, 
and the surface made light with Ferns or similar material. Groups 
and bowls arranged in this way, and a few additional bracts laid 
quite flat on the cloth with a fringe of Fern, form a combination, 
of arrangements which for bold, brilliant colouring and uncommon 
form are not easily beaten. 
In marked contrast to the above, yet not less beautiful, is & 
table adorned solely with bronze and bronzy-yellow flowers, 
coloured leaves of Berberis aquifolium, small graceful Crotons, 
and a few Fern fronds. Trumpet-shaped vases with three pro¬ 
jecting arms are admirably adapted for placing along the centre 
of the table when these materials are employed. When vases of 
this type are used lightness in arrangement is easily secured. 
Where this useful Berberis abounds it is generally possible to 
obtain a few very slender, highly coloured tops. These ought 
to be reserved for the vases, and the larger and well developed 
leaves employed for tracing. If a few pieces of Box are first 
placed in the glasses the Berberis tops can then be lightly arranged, 
and flowers of the right shades of colour intermixed with them. 
Chrysanthemums of the Japanese and single types supply flowers 
of the right character for this purpose, and with special treatment 
these may be had in bloom at Christmas. Fronds of Adiantum 
cuneatum, and of some light form of Pteris serrulata, together 
with a few dried grasses, are excellent to use for giving the 
necessary finishing touches, and if some long trailers of Smilax are 
at hand, nothing is better for hanging over the sides of the glasses, 
and trailing for a considerable length along the cloth. If space 
will permit a few low glasses may with advantage be filled with 
the same materials, and disposed in suitable places. The whole of 
the glasses, candlesticks, and other ornaments, should then be 
No. 2412.— VoL. XCL, Old Series. 
