288 
WnXDOW GARDENINO 
The Parisian fieuristes can take a flower with less than half an inch of footstalk 
and make it very effective. The smallest piece of well soaked cotton wool is 
pressed around the stem, and a small piece of wire is wound about it to keep the 
wool close, and it is twisted closely together for a stem ; a fresh green leaf can 
be rolled over the wool to prevent its being ob- 
served. Every one knows how often a lovely 
flower will snap from the stem and be seemingly 
useless, but with a bit of fine wire pierced through 
the calyx a stem is provided which will answer 
all the purpose ; then cotton wool thoroughly 
wetted can be wound tightly over it. White 
Camellias are ruined if the slightest moisture 
touches the petals, and the best way to mount the 
flower is to moisten a piece of white cotton wool 
about the size of half a dollar, then lay it on a 
piece the size of the flower itself, which should 
Fig. 37. Bouquet then be lifted up ; two ends of a loop of wire having 
been passed through the centre of the wool before laying it under the flower, lift 
up the loop of wire, and slip it between the leaflets or points of the thickest 
calyx and the flower, drawing it gently around it ; then reverse the flower, and 
pass the wire through the wool twisting it around a cluster of leaves of the 
Camellia, and concealing the wool with them. "With pink flowers use pink wool. 
Melted isinglass is often used to make the flower adhere closely to the wool ; this 
helps to keep the flower from falling, and also moistens it. Isinglass is better in 
preparing flowers than gum or mucilage of any kind, because it is not so sticky, 
and is of a pure white tint. A crown or wreath of Camellias can be prepared in 
this manner, that will last for four or five days in great perfection ; even if the 
flowers drop their petals the wool retains enough of them to keep up the appear- 
ance of flowers. 
Pl(?. 38. A Cornucopia of Flowers. 
To mount Geraniums, Azaleaj, etc., the stems should be cut off within an inch 
of the cluster or single flower, and a drop of isinglass be given inside of the petals, 
wetted wool and the wire should be arranged as described for Camellias 
