286 
WINDOW GARDENING. 
In our country flowers are chiefly regarded as accessories, while in France aud 
Germany there is no family fete without its graceful door wreaths, its garlanded 
picture frames, and its coronals of flowers ; and not a toilette without its appro- 
priate flower. 
In arranging flowers it is well to bear in mind the laws of worsted work, and 
when we desire to adorn our rooms with flowers we should consider the " ground- 
ing" to be prepared for them, as if it were a cushion. 
White is often the chief ground work of a wreath, bouquet, or vase, yet it 
greatly impoverishes the other 
colors, and renders a brilliant 
assortment of flowers trivial, if 
little dabs of white are scattered 
all over them — yet if used as an 
outer edging it will heighten their 
colors, and in a bouquet, vase, cr 
wreath of delicate, pale shades, it 
tends to make their colors more 
distinct. 
Passion flowers are peculiarly 
lovely when arranged with pale 
pink roses, etc., but if white 
flowers are mingled with them, 
the efiect is not pleasing. 
Rose color and pale blue are 
exquisite when mingled ; white 
lilac or mauve with primrose ; 
dark blue and brilliant scarlet; 
cerise or cherry and white ; daik 
purple and primrose, blue, white 
and rose color. 
The shade of green should, as a 
geneial rule, harmonize with the 
natural foliage of the flowers ; if 
this is disregarded it will tend 
Fig. 35. Vase of Cut Fioweri. to overpowcr instead of increase 
the brightness of the flowers. Very dark green looks well with only 
large, pure-tinted heavy flowers, like Roses, Camellias, Dahlias, etc., although 
it will look well with white flowers of finer structure, if their texture is thick 
and waxen and especially with wild flowers of the spring. Thin, yellowish green 
foliage would ruin the Camellia, which needs the intense dark color of its own 
leaves to show forth its statuesque beauty and elegance. 
Indeed, the use of thin, quickly fading green sprays will injure all floral ar- 
rangements ; and young leaves of all kinds droop soon ; while older, thicker ibli- 
Bge will last a long time. The leaves of the scarlet geranium preserve many 
