Three House and Garden Suggestions 
Then rocks were embedded, forming pockets, ledges 
and small beds; but in all cases the soil led down 
to the main mound, so that in every instance, no 
matter how small the pocket was at the top, there was 
ample root room below. 
Nearly one-half of the western portion is occupied 
by one grouping of rocks, and is shown in the first 
illustration here given; while a closer view of a por¬ 
tion of it is given in number two. Between the group 
and the large pocket containing the ferns (number 3) 
is a gently sloping space, starting from the lawn and 
leading up to a small bed at the back, containing 
succulent plants. It is some nine or ten feet long, 
varying in width, but averaging, say six feet, all of 
which is planted with the moss pink —Phlox subulata. 
The flat mass eff ect is broken by a protruding jagged- 
topped rock, at the base of which is a very dwarf 
arbor-vitse. Hidden in among the plants are flat 
stepping stones to admit passage for weeding. This 
space, whether in its brilliant flowering period, or 
when reveling in the mossy gray tones of its foliage, 
is always attractive. A few short oak boughs, cut 
early so as to retain their foliage, stuck into the soil 
here and there between the plants, gather the flying 
autumn leaves, holding them in place, and affording 
an ideal winter protection for this evergreen plant. 
A tall, slender, pyramidal arbor-vitae stands 
at the east of the phlox, to the left of which 
is a large group of the ostrich fern, shown in illustra¬ 
tion number three. This fern bed is raised some 
two and a half feet above the lawn level, and when the 
ferns are in their prime they are considerably taller 
than one’s head when standing on the lawn. 
At the base of the rocks, retaining the soil in this 
bed, is a single specimen of that admirable shrub 
Berbens Thunbergu. A Funkia subcordata and 
some escaped ferns complete the foundation furnish¬ 
ings. Pyramidal and dwarf evergreens are used 
here and there in order that, from our windows and 
porch, the space may look attractive when the other 
occupants are enjoying their winter’s nap. 
Among the plants used are the following—the 
varieties of annuals being changed each year: 
Alyssum saxatile 
Anagallis Phillipsi 
Asclepias tuberosa 
Columbines 
Campanula Carpatica 
Callirrhoe involucrata 
Epimediums 
Gaura Lindheimeri 
G era mum sangu in emu 
Geum coccineum 
Id elia nth e mm us 
Lobelias-dwarf 
Phlox subulata 
Sedums 
Sanvita/ia procumbens 
Saponaria ocymoides 
Silcue pendula 
Sweet alyssum 
Tagetes nana 
Ulmaria Filipendula 
Verbascu >n phceniccum 
Veronica repens 
Table IT is an unusual pleasure to those 
Decorations L having access to their own flower 
gardens to arrange their table decorations when 
entertaining. Almost any departure from the 
florist’s decoration that one has seen so oft re¬ 
peated during the winter’s festivities, is a welcome 
change to one’s guest, and starts the feast with a 
feeling of pleasure. A little forethought in the 
selection of flowers and foliage most suitable, and 
of the proper vehicles to contain them is advisable. 
It is an established rule that no table decoration 
should be so tall as to hide the view of any guest. 
To engage in conversation with an unseen person 
is not pleasing. Bowls and small individual vases 
have been generally used, but the former are apt 
to produce a lumpy effect, too heavy for a dainty 
lunch. I here is in market a stand about a foot 
high, with a glass base and standard and a silvered 
wire frame holding, in candelabra form, five small urn¬ 
shaped vases, which may be arranged quite daintily. 
There are taller ones, containing more vases, but too 
tall for table use. A more elaborate stand is also in 
the market, round in side outlines, having respectively 
nine and eleven vases, the centre ones being higher 
than those outside, thus forming a low mounding top. 
1 lie frame is of silvered wire and the vases of white 
glass, and they cost nine and eleven dollars each. 
One may, however, have a frame made of copper 
wire by any florist, painting it an enameled white 
JAPAN A HOLDER IN GLASS DISH 
