252 
WINDOW OARDENING. 
" They are of the greatest utility in these decorations, and are largely uswl in <t(l 
parts. So are most all kinds of fine-leaved plants, from Phormium to Ficus. 
Young Palms are also cultivated to an enormous extent about Paris ; and so is 
every green and graceful-leaved plant, from the Cycads to the common trailing 
Ivy, — used to make living screens of. 
" The wide staircase at the Hotel de Ville, ascending from the entrance hall, had 
also a charming array of plants so placed that the visitors seemed to pass through 
a sort of floral grove ; fine-leaved plants arching over, but not rising very high, 
and having a profusion of flowering things among and beneath them. 
"As the bank of Primu- 
las and the groups of tall 
plants were placed opposite 
this staircase, and reflected 
in the great mirror behind, 
the effect when descend- 
ing the staircase was fasci- 
nating indeed. A still finer 
effect Mas produced in a 
room near the great danchig 
saloon, and through which 
the guests passed to the 
magnificent ball room. 
Against each pillar in this 
saloon was placed a palm 
with high and arching leaves 
like those of the SiefortJiia 
eleganSy and others with 
larger leaves and pendulous 
leaflets. These meeting, 
or almost meeting across, 
produced a very graceful 
and imposing effect, while 
round them were arranged 
other plants, distinguished 
either by beauty of leaf or 
Fig. 6.— Begonia. flower, and the groups at 
each pillar connected by single rows of dwarf plants, closely placed however, and 
well mossed in, as in the case of the more important groups. 
" The very close placing of the plants is a peculiar part of the arrangement. 
You can not notice any dividing marks or gaps. Yet there is no awkward crowding. 
'' These arrangements were infinitely varied at the great balls, both public and 
private; rocks, water grottpes, and similar decorations, were occasionally intro- 
duced, both indoors and in the open air, and in the gardens behind private houses. 
