62 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
The requirements are :—First, a bell-glass, which should be very clear and 
white; the size may be from that required for a single flower, say, four inches in 
diameter, up to one like that shown in the accompanying engraving, which repre¬ 
sents a diameter of nine inches ; the lower stand in which it is placed will admit 
of great variety of form ; it may be of glass or china, and plain or ornamental, 
and low like the engraving, or elevated on a stand ; but one thing is indispensable, 
the bottom must be perfectly flat, and at least half-an-inch in depth. The 
interior stand will also admit of much variety, the indispensable part being that 
it should be formed of some substance not likely to colour the water, heavy 
enough to remain at the bottom, and pierced with holes, into which the stems of 
the flowers are inserted, and securely fastened with small plugs of white wood. 
The modus operandi^ which requires much care, is simple enough, when 
, understood. Fill a tub with the clearest and purest water in sufficient quantity 
to completely cover both stand and glass; then place the lower stand on the 
bottom of the tub, and having arranged the bouquet on the smaller stand,* with 
whatever is used for anchoring the flowers, place it in the centre of the larger 
stand, and as the flowers will be partially disarranged in passing downwards 
through the water, let them be carefully manipulated and placed in position. 
The bell glass must now be immersed sideways into the water, and gradually 
sunk down, so as to be placed over the bouquet, especial care being taken that no 
air is left under the glass. The whole should then be lifted out by the lower 
stand and placed in position, and if well done, it will foim an elegant ornament, 
and the flowers will retain their beauty for a long time. 
Some kinds of plants, and notably the foliage of maiden-hair fern and of 
heaths, appear to contain a small amount of air in themselves, and this comes 
out on the edge of the leaves, and forms innumerable small globules, which gives 
the bouquet the appearance of being covered with dew-drops or diamonds, and 
has an extremely beautiful effect when the sun shines on it, or when seen by 
lamplight.— John Cox, Bedleaf. 
DOUBLE DAISIES. 
apology is necessary for calling attention to this, one of the homeliest, as 
7^ it is also one of the most serviceable of our earlier-blooming spring 
flowers. “ Did we,” says Mr. Robinson, in his book on Alpine Flowers^ 
did we only And the Daisy in company with Androsaces on the high 
Alps, or even so far out of our way as the lowest Gentian, we would of course be 
enraptured with its neatness of habit and delicate purity of tone.” We are apt 
to under-estimate many beautiful flowers just because they are common, and no 
flower more so than the Daisy. 
I have sought in vain for some reliable information as to the origin of the 
various double forms now in cultivation. How many of them are species, or 
varieties of species ? There appears to be a well-defined difference between the 
Red and White quilled varieties, and the Pink and White ligulate forms. 
