1872. ] 
FLOWERS FOR CHURCH DECORATION. 
107 
was also Abies Menziesii. Of Picea cephcilonica too, I have raised thousands, and 
many of the early seedlings are noble trees about the park clumps, and have them¬ 
selves produced cones years ago ; the same may be said of Picea nobilis and Picea 
Nordmanniana , which were raised in great numbers, and are to be seen planted in 
various localities about the estate. Many of the first seedlings I raised of Pinus 
insignis are now trees of from 30 ft. to 50 ft. high, and have themselves produced 
cones long since. I also raised several fine batches of Pinus excelsa and other 
varieties, and planted them out; also of Cryptomeriajaponicci, &c. ; in fact, the 
nursery contained thousands of various healthy conifers.— James Barnes, 'Exmouth. 
[We understand that Sciadopitys verticillatci is this year coning at Knaphill.] 
FLOWERS FOR CHURCH DECORATION. 
S HE use of flowers in churches has become very general, either on special 
occasions, or, in many instances, on each Sunday. In large cities especi- 
W ally, it is very desirable to continue this practice, for it gives many of the 
congregation an opportunity to see flowers, which they would not have 
without visiting a good garden in the country. In this country, where the service 
is, in many instances, performed from a reading stand or table instead of a 
pulpit, there is frequently a large vase of flowers placed on the stand : in other 
cases, two or more vases on the communion-table. 
With this preface I intend to mention a few of the flowers which are found 
best adapted for the purpose, under the two heads of winter and summer flowers. 
They might indeed be called outside and in-door flowers, as after the middle of 
May, and thence until the end of September, there is an abundance of outside 
flowers and foliage suitable for the purpose. And as a large vase of flowers 
without foliage would be in very bad taste, I will also mention the foliage we use 
at each season, commencing with the winter. 
Of flowers it is necessary to have some good bold flowers of decided colours, 
or pure white. One of the best, much in demand at Easter especially, is the old 
Richardia cethiopica , and Eucharis grandiflora is prized at all times. Poinsettia 
and Euphorbia jacquinicejlora are good ; Zygopetalum crinitum is fine ; a few good 
stems of Tuberose are also useful in the winter, on account of their sweetness ; 
white and red Carnations; white and red Bouvardicis for smaller subjects, with 
Heliotrope and Stevia for scent and light graceful flowers. A few extra fine 
Chrysanthemums of a clear white may be used, but other colours look common. 
Passijlorci princeps , both flowers and shoots, are fine to hang down, with shoots 
of Cissus discolor , and flowers of Begonia Scmdersii and B. insignis. 
For foliage we use shoots of Canna , or leaves of Richardia and Eucharis. 
Shoots of Abutilon Thompsoni are fine, especially by candle-light. Fronds of 
Cibotium Bcirometz , Polypodium ctureum , Dicksonici antarctica, and several varieties 
of Pteris , also the flower-shoots and leaves of Maranta Veitchii and the M. War - 
scewiczii are splendid ; the white flowers of the latter, with good leaves on the 
stems, are magnificent. A good shoot of Arundo Doncix versicolor is also fine 
