642 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 8, 1889. 
Many other insects termed leaf-rollers, and belonging 
to widely separated families prove destructive to Boses 
in certain localities. Some of the commonest are the 
Tortrices, a group of small moths individually very 
insignificant, but when plentiful—as they are this 
season—they are capable of doing considerable mischief 
by eating the leaves, the edges of which they roll 
together, binding them with silken threads. The grubs 
are slender, pale grey, with a darker hue along the 
middle of the back, and a darker head, and live in these 
cavities or cylinders which they form for themselves. 
They are lively and agile if molested, and often 
suddenly leave their chambers, letting themselves down 
by a thread, by which they re-ascend after the danger 
is past. Insecticides are of no avail, and hand picking, 
though a tedious operation, must be resorted to in order 
to diminish their numbers.— Tnsecta. 
-►>*<-- 
PLANTS AND FLOWERS FOR 
DECORATIVE PURPOSES. 
The great increase in the quantity of plants and flower s 
grown for decorative purposes at the present time, as 
compared with thirty years ago, is quite remarkable, 
for in looking through some of the standard gardening 
books published about that time, I was unable to find 
anything respecting room or table decorations, and was 
very much surprised at the poor variety of suitable 
plants then in general cultivation. Since that time, 
however, things have changed, for there has been a 
steady increase in the use of floral decorations right up 
to the present time, when the decorator’s art is in 
request "at all sorts of gatherings, and amongst all 
classes of the community. 
I have often been struck by the quantity of hard- 
wooded plants, especially Heaths, which are dispersed 
all over the country, the bulk of them coming from a 
very small area. Of the quantity and varieties of 
suitable subjects for room and table decorations there 
is scarcely any limit, but still fashion has something to 
answer for. Very often some particular flower or design 
is used pretty generally wherever you go, but I am of 
opinion that a good deal of the increase is due to a 
desire to outdo one’s neighbours, which is all very well 
when there is no scarcity of materials to work with, as 
in the case of professional decorators or furnishers, or 
in large private establishments where plants are grown 
by the thousand for the purpose ; but it is in smaller 
places, where a little of everything has to be grown— 
very often under difficulties, such as want of space, un¬ 
suitable houses, insufficient help, &c.—that it becomes 
necessary to cultivate only the most suitable things, 
that can be thoroughly depended upon. 
It is my object to give a few hints that maybe useful 
to beginners who are fixed in the same position as 
myself; but before I do so I would just point out the 
enormous quantity of flowers that are used for memorial 
wreaths and other emblems, for in one instance known 
to me there were between two and three hundred at 
one funeral. The florists seem to vie with each other 
as to who shall produce the most original design, and 
if the fashion alters as much in the next five years as 
it has done in the last, I know not what the result will 
be. 
Coming to the more practical part of my subject, I 
will first notice a few plants that are most suitable for 
room and table decoration. Foliage plants, I think, 
will generally be found to be most useful, for in many 
cases they have to be placed in dark corners of the 
rooms, and remain there until replaced by others. For 
this purpose only the hardiest should be used, such as 
Aspidistra lurida variegata, Ficus elastica, Cyperus alter- 
naefolius and variegata, Aralias Sieboldii and reticulata, 
greenhouse Dractenas congesta and rubra, Myrtles, and 
the following Palms :—Arecas sapida and Baueri, 
Kentias australis, Forsteriana, and Balmoreana, Latania 
borbonica, Phcenix reclinata, rupicola, and dactylifera, 
Seaforthias elegans and robusta. A few of the hardier 
Ferns, such as Asplenium bulbiferum, Nephrolepis ex- 
altata, Adiantum pubescens, Pteris cretica, P. serrulata, 
P. tremula, Phlebodium aureum, and Platycerium alci- 
corne. There are certainly a few flowering plants that 
may be used for windows and the lightest positions, and 
also for decorations of a temporary character ; together 
with a large quantity of stove plants, which are more 
tender and should not be kept out of their warmer 
quarters any longer than necessary, for the change in 
the atmospheric conditions, such as scarcity of light, 
want of moisture in the atmosphere to invigorate the 
foliage, and the prevalence of draughts make it a 
struggle to maintain life under such conditions ; and, 
therefore, everything that is possible should be done 
beforehand, to prepare them for these uses, by gradually 
inuring them to the cooler atmosphere. 
Plants recently re-potted should not be used until 
thoroughly established. It is my custom to leave a few 
plants at the general re-potting, to be used until the 
others are ready, that is, thoroughly established again. 
Of the blooming and tender class I would recommend 
as suitable, the following : —Callas, Liliums, Eucharis, 
Pancratium, Amaryllis, Azaleas, Cyclamen, Rhododen¬ 
drons, &c., for single plants and for groups ; together 
with Gloxinias, Lily of the Valley, Spineas, Bhodanthe 
Manglesii, Aquilegias, and a great variety of Dutch 
bulbs in their season. Also the following foliage 
plants Cocos Weddelliana and plumosus, Areca 
lutescens, Thrinax elegans, Geonoma gracilis, Euterpe 
edulis, Crotons, Dracaenas, Pandanus, Acalypha tricolor, 
Alocasias, Marantas, Caladiums, Selaginellas, Trades- 
cantias, Panicums, and Ferns. Single plants, as a 
rule, are most effective, and there is variety enough, 
forsooth, of vases to hold them, but in large rooms 
groups of plants may be used effectively either on the 
floor, where flat zinc trays may be used to put them in, 
or in wire or wicker stands, made in different shapes 
for the purpose ; but the crowding then necessary is 
detrimental to the plants. 
For the reception of cut flowers for room decoration, 
I think the trumpet-shape is the best, especiall}' in 
large vases, for they are much easier to dress, especially 
when not too wide at the top. These are best suited for 
drooping flowers, such as Fuchsias, or similar subjects 
that should be seen from below, and could not be used 
with any effect in flat dishes ; yet for such things as 
Stephanotis, Allamandas, &c., flat dishes are indis¬ 
pensable, and are best filled with moss before putting 
in the flowers. When coloured vases or baskets of 
china or other materials are used, greater care must be 
taken in the selection of suitable sorts, as dark flowers 
should be put in light-coloured vases, and vice versa. 
Another thing to be avoided is not to have too many 
strongly-scented flowers in one room, as they become 
oppressive, especially if the room is not well ventilated. 
It is a very difficult matter to lay down any rule as 
to the arrangement of cut flowers ; it seems to come 
naturally to some persons, while others, try as they 
may, cannot satisfy themselves or other people. In all 
cases stiffness should be avoided, and I find it a great 
help to have plenty of foliage, and to put it in the vases 
first, making a good support for the flowers, and helping 
to hold them in their proper places. 
Now a few remarks on table decorations. Many of 
the plants that I mentioned for room decoration are 
equally useful for table. Much has been written for 
and against the practice of inserting plants through 
the table by means of a special leaf, but I would not 
recommend it except in instances where very large 
plants are used. In the case of large Tree Ferns in 
tubs, the effect is good provided the room and the 
table are correspondingly large ; but the chief aim 
should be not to obstruct the view across the table, 
therefore the plants should not be too large. 
A good effect may be got by a small group in the 
centre of the table, made on a small waiter or a circular 
piece of wood, by placing a nice plant in a 5-in. or 6-in. 
pot in the centre, and then surrounding it with smaller 
plants turned out of their pots and filled in with a little 
moss. The groups may be varied, at one time they 
may be flowering plants, while at another period foliage 
plants may be employed, the shape of the group being 
made oval or diamond as the case may be. Of course 
there are many more elaborate arrangements that we 
might mention, but as it is only the few who have the 
necessary materials at hand to carry them out, it is 
almost useless to mention them, as they tend only to 
make us dissatisfied with our smaller efforts. 
Many of the epergnes made of silver and metal for 
the reception of flowers for the decoration of the dinner- 
table are unnecessarily clumsy, and it is almost im¬ 
possible to dress them so as to look well ; but a few 
things that are useful are Asparagus plumosus and A. 
tenuissimus, Ficus repens, Lygodium scandens, Orchid 
blooms where obtainable, with Thrysacanthus rutilans, 
Euphorbia jacquiniflora, Dielytra spectabilis, Deutzia 
gracilis, Clematis of sorts, and many others in their 
proper seasons. The best shape for a centre piece, in 
my opinion, is one having a flat dish at the bottom, 
out of which there rises a slender trumpet, without the 
three or four small side pieces very often seen. I 
cannot say a word in favour of the low troughs to form 
geometrical designs, as they afford no scope for artistic 
arrangement. Neither can I agree with the practice of 
laying foliage and flowers on the cloth, which I think 
is unnatural. The difficulty very often is not to find 
designs, but to find materials, as we are bound to cut 
our garment according to our cloth—at least, that is 
the case with Country Gardener. 
PARAFFIN AS AN INSECTICIDE 
Up to the present time so very little ha3 been said 
against the use of paraffin as an insecticide that it is 
quite refreshing to read the adverse comments of Mr. 
J. Peebles on p. 628. He says he has only given a few 
of the objections against its use. It is a great pity he 
did not give us the remainder, for upon reading his 
remarks carefully through I do not think the onslaught 
so very terrific after all, and I am sure many of us 
must have more weighty reasons before we place it at 
such a low estimate as Mr. Peebles seems to have done. 
His first proposition merely resolves itself into a 
caution against its improper or careless application, 
and he quotes an instance of a catastrophe occurring 
to a certain Lapageria in this way. I should think in 
the case which he so graphically describes it must have 
been improperly or carelessly administered indeed. 
The Lapageria not being a very soft-wooded subject will 
bear a pretty strong application, I have used it upon 
this plant for scale frequently, and a pretty strong 
dose, too, but have seen no ill effects resulting from its 
use. 
Most of us who have recommended it so highly from 
time to time in your journal have also conveyed the 
same caution—the proper proportions of paraffin and 
water which we find from practical experience to be 
the best, and the great care to be exercised in keeping 
the solution properly mixed. This last is a great 
difficulty, because water being of greater density than 
paraffin will not mix, but the oil will float on the top ; 
and although soft soap [or milk] will greatly assist 
the operation of mixing, it is not perfect, but must be 
stirred with the syringe to be fit for use. I do not at 
all undervalue some of the various insecticides which 
are in commerce, but if something could be added to 
cause the oil to mix readily with water it would be a 
very acceptable addition to the list. [This is done 
now.— Ed.] I am very glad Mr. Peebles does not 
record any catastrophe happening to the Stephanotis 
and Gardenia plants which he knows to be regularly 
syringed with petroleum. In such cases as he describes, 
where mealy-bug is so rampant, I find it best to give 
the house a thorough good drenching with water first, 
and then a good syringing with the solution of paraffin 
and water. Gardenias will bear a proportion of half a 
pint to the gallon without injury. This, if properly 
done, will cleanse the plants, and if they are carefully 
watched afterwards and taken in time it will not be 
much trouble to keep the pest under, while I can assure 
Mr. Peebles little or no sponging will be required. 
Soft-wooded plants, such as some varieties of Begonias 
with hairy leaves or stalks, which enable them to retain 
moisture for a long time, must certainly be carefully 
dealt with ; but if these are gone over with clear water 
after the house is syringed w r ith the solution, no harm 
will result. This will be better than any inconvenience 
and labour occasioned by removing or re-arranging the 
plants. There are really so few subjects likely to be 
injured by the paraffin that it is scarcely worth con¬ 
sideration. 
I do not know what sort of paraffin Mr. Peebles has 
seen used, but as he mentioned petroleum, I suppose he 
means the mineral oil which is so extensively used in 
commerce, and which, I believe, is generally under¬ 
stood when speaking of paraffin. I can scarcely under¬ 
stand how the smell can remain for days in the house ; 
it must be very bad oil to occasion that. Paraffin is 
considered to be rather volatile, the smell quickly 
passing away. We often use quantities of manure 
water in our houses, which has a much more offensive 
smell, though no one condemns it on that account; but 
for those whose olfactory nerves are so sensitive it 
would be better either to use some other insecticide, or 
to employ some strong scent to counteract its influence. 
—Alfred Gaut. 
Having “dilated” in your columns on the properties of 
the above, perhaps you will kindly allow me space for 
a few words in reply to your correspondent, Mr. J. 
Peebles. I must certainly say that he seems unfortu¬ 
nate ; as not long ago he had procured or was supplied 
with the wrong sort of Anthracite, and now he seems 
inclined to fall foul of your correspondents by saying 
that they have overrated the properties of paraffin. 
Some time ago it was recommended in your columns 
for syringing Stephanotis to keep it free from mealy¬ 
bug, and I remember Mr. Peebles wanted to know 
whether the writer had tried Bridgford’s Antiseptic; 
now he recommends methylated spirit, Lemon and Fir 
Tree Oils, Nicotine Soap, &c. I smile at the numerous 
insecticides now advertised in the horticultural press, 
and think that, like patent medicines, the composition 
must be a paying affair. Perhaps before long your 
