September  10,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTTCtJLTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
247 
there  among  the«e  leaves  Plums  of  various  colours  look  extremely 
attractive. 
A.  few  coloured  leaves  ishould  also  be  introduced  between  the 
different  fruits,  but  not  in  sufficient  quantities  to  hide  their  size  and 
beauty.  A  few  trailing  pieces  of  Ampelopais  to  hang  from  the 
base  of  the  fruits  over  the  sides  of  the  table  will  complete  this 
part  of  the  arrangement.  For  filling  the  vases  on  the  table  I 
know  of  nothing  more  suitable  than  white  Dahlias,  Anemone 
japonica  alba,  white  Chrysanthemums,  or  a  few  flowers  of  Magnolia 
grandiflora,  with  Asparagus  or  Maidenhair  Fern  intermixed.  On 
either  side  of  the  communion  table  there  are  usually  recesses  of 
considerable  width.  In  these  the  decorator  can  often  make  his 
most  imposing  display.  This  is  generally  done  by  the  aid  of  pot 
plants,  but  to  my  mind  a  still  better  and  more  characteristic 
effect  may  be  produced  with  the  materials  I  am  about  to  recom¬ 
mend  in  this  arrangement — Bulirusbos  and  reeds  from  the  lake  or 
river  bank,  as  well  as  long  shoots  of  the  common  Asparagus  will 
play  an  important  part.  For  arranging  these  in  I  find  nothing 
better  than  bowls  or  stone  jars. 
These  are  half  filled  with  water, 
and  then  packed  tightly  with  pieces 
of  Box  placed  in  an  upright  posi¬ 
tion  ;  the  reeds  and  rushes  are 
then  placed  in  them,  the  water 
keeping  them  fresh  for  several 
days,  and  the  Box  holds  them 
firmly  in  position.  The  reeds  can 
sometimes  be  obtained  8  or  9  feet 
in  height.  When  such  is  the  case 
they  are  splendidly  adapted  for 
forming  the  background  of  the 
group.  When  they  are  somewhat 
short  for  this  purpose  extra  height 
may  be  obtained  by  placing  the 
jars  on  pots  or  pedestals,  and  in 
some  instances  fastening  the  reed» 
to  sticks. 
It  is,  however,  then  often  neces¬ 
sary  to  carry  a  wire  from  several 
reeds  to  a  nail  or  other  fastening 
in  the  wall,  otherwise  the  top¬ 
heaviness  of  the  reeds  will  over¬ 
turn  the  receptacle  in  which  they 
are  placed.  The  great  point  to 
aim  at  in  the  arrangement  of  this 
background  is  to  make  it  bold  and 
undulating.  In  the  centre  of  the 
group  a  large  well  formed  sheaf 
of  corn  should  be  placed,  the 
materials  around  it  being  kept  low, 
so  as  to  show  up  a  good  length 
of  straw,  as  well  as  the  band,  and 
ears  of  corn  where  the  band  is 
fastened.  The  remaining  portion 
of  the  body  of  the  group  can  be 
filled  in  with  common  Asparagus, 
sprays  of  Berberis  vulgaris,  with 
its  clusters  of  orange  and  scarlet 
fruits,  and  lightly  arranged  bunches 
of  Michaelmas  Daisies,  Sunflowers 
of  both  large  and  miniature  types, 
and  if  possible  a  few  spikes  of 
Tritoma  Uvaria.  The  whole  of  these  can  be  arranged  in  jars  or 
bottles,  or  failing  these,  flower  pots  filled  firmly  with  sand.  Along 
the  front  an  irregular  outline  may  be  formed  with  moss.  On 
this  moss  a  few  Yegetable  Martova'S,  Gourds,  Potatoes,  Tomatoes, 
Carrots,  Ijeeks,  and  Capsicums  will,  if  well  arranged,  make  a 
splendid  display ;  a  few  reeds  and  flowe*  should  be  introduced 
between  them  here  and  there  to  break  th^j  outline.  The  brightly 
coloured  vegetables  ought  to  be  given  a  setting  of  Parsley,  and  the 
less  conspicuous  ones  surrounded  with  coloured  leaves,  the  edge  of 
the  whole  being  finished  off  with  a  few  trailing  pieces  of  Yirginian 
Creeper.  When  well  executed  this  is  decidedly  the  most  showy 
and  suitable  kind  of  harvest  festival  decoration  that  I  know  of. 
The  communion  rails  may  be  made  to  look  extremely  pretty  by 
decorating  them  with  Barley,  Wheat,  and  Oats  ;  a  trellis  may  easily 
and  quickly  be  formed  with  a  few  strips  of  deal,  nailed  or  fastened 
together  with  string,  and  to  this  the  ears  of  corn,  with  6  inches  of 
stalk  attached,  can  Vie  fastened  by  means  of  string  or  wire.  A 
fulness  in  the  arrangement  should  be  observed  wherever  the  strips 
of  wood  croiF  each  other,  or  form  an  angle.  In  some  churches  the 
choir  stalls  and  book  stands  are  well  adapted  for  effective  embellish¬ 
ment.  At  the  end  of  the  stalls  a  bold  mass  of  reeds,  arranged  in  a 
bowl  or  large  pot  filled  with  sand,  form  a  striking  object ,  a  pretty 
wreath  for  the  outline  of  the  stalls  may  be  quickly  formeu  by 
entwining  shoots  of  the  wild  Clematis — which  is  now  covered  with 
feathery  like  plumes — with  those  of  Ampelopsis  Yeitchi.  This 
may  be  easily  fastened  wherever  required  by  means  of  a  few  tacks. 
At  the  foot  of  the  stalls  on  either  side  of  the  passage  leading  up  to 
the  communion  rails  a  pretty  effect  is  obtained  by  the  introduction 
of  a  row  of  dwarf  flowering  plants,  with  a  few  graceful  foliaged 
ones  springing  above  them.  Failing  pot  plants,  quite  as  good  an 
effect  may  be  secured  by  the  use  of  cut  flowers  and  greenery. 
These  can,  as  usual,  be  placed  in  bottles  or  jars  set  in  a  bank  of 
moss,  the  moss  in  turn  being  covered  with  sprays  of  berried  plants, 
coloured  leaves,  and  small  pieces  of  common  Asparagus. 
There  are  many  ways  of  effectively  decorating  a  pulpit,  but  it 
is  necessary  to  have  a  little  variety  in  the  style  adopted  in  various 
parts  of  the  church.  I  also  like  if  possible  to  use  the  bulk  of 
flowers  when  they  can  be  placed  in  water,  so  as  to  prolong  their 
period  of  beauty  ;  for  this  reason  I  recommend  the  pulpit  to  be 
decorated  with  corn  alone.  The  rail  of  the  staircase  leading  up  to 
it  may  be  covered  with  a  wreath 
composed  of  Barley  and  Oats. 
This  should  be  carried  round  the 
top  of  the  pulpit.  The  wreath 
can  easily  be  made  by  binding  the 
corn  to  string,  in  the  way  that  an 
ordinary  evergreen  wreath  is  made. 
The  panels  should  next  be  covered 
with  scarlet  cloth,  this  being  edged 
with  a  compact  bordering  composed 
of  ears  of  Wheat,  sewn  or  glued 
to  strips  of  thick  paper.  The 
centre  of  the  panel  may  then  be 
either  filled  in  with  a  motto  or 
with  a  cross  of  Wheat,  the  ears 
being  bound  to  thin  strips  of  wood. 
Window  recesses  may  be  quickly 
and  showily  decorated  in  a  variety 
of  ways.  One  is  to  fasten  a  strip 
of  board  a  few  inches  in  width 
along  the  edge ;  this  should  be 
faced  with  virgin  cork,  and  the 
window  ledge  covered  with  moss. 
A  graceful  foliage  plant  or  a  few 
sprays  of  rushes  or  Asparagus 
should  rise  from  a  little  mound, 
of  moss  in  the  centre,  and  a  tuft 
of  grass  or  Asparagus  spring  up 
from  the  front  corners  of  the 
ledge.  The  groundwork  can  then 
be  covered  with  flowers  laid  on  the 
moss.  Dahlias  and  Asters  answer 
admirably  for  this  purpose.  To 
give  the  finishing  touch  a  few  trail¬ 
ing  pieces  of  Yirginian  Creeper 
should  drape  the  cork. 
Given  the  same  arrangement  in 
outline  to  start  with,  the  ground¬ 
work  may  in  some  cases  be  filled 
in  with  Apples,  Pears  and  Mar¬ 
rows.  In  many  churches  there 
are  beautiful  Gothic  arches  and 
pillars  ;  these  often  have  grooves 
which  terminate  in  a  little  niche 
about  level  with  the  top  of  the  pews.  These  niches  are  just  large 
enough  to  hold  a  small  glass  jar  (similar  to  those  in  which  honey  is 
sold)  ;  let  one  filled  with  water  be  placed  in  each  niche,  and  a  piece 
of  string  be  fastened  securely  round  the  pillar  to  hold  it  in 
position.  The  string  should  be  entwined  with  Ivy  and  Ampelopsis, 
leaving  the  ends  hanging  down  here  and  there.  Long  pieces  of 
Asparagus  placed  in  the  glasses  will  form  a  good  background  for 
flowers  of  all  descriptions,  which  may  complete  the  arrangement. 
Of  course  some  with  long  stems  should,  if  possible,  be  obtained, 
Anemones  and  miniature  Sunflowers  are  excellent. 
The  font  should  bo  conspicuous  in  point  of  chasteness  and 
beauty,  I  therefore  prefer  to  use  white  flowers  and  green  foliage 
only.  The  centre  ought,  if  possible,  be  fitted  with  a  shallow  tin 
filled  with  wet  sand.  Shoots  of  Asparagus,  Eulalias,  or  rushes 
fastened  securely  in  a  glass  form  a  good  centre.  A  fringe  of 
Maidenhair  should  next  be  placed  around  the  edge  of  the  tin,  and 
the  sand  completely  covered  with  shoots  of  Asparagus,  allowing 
tall  pieces  to  rise  above  the  groundwork  here  and  there.  This 
groundwork  can  then  be  filled  in  with  flowers,  of  course  arranging 
them  lightly  so  as  to  show  plenty  of  greenery  between.  Anemones, 
Asters,  and  single  Dahlias  are  suitable  flowers  to  use.  At  the  base 
of  the  font  a  wide  wreath  of  flowers  may  be  placed,  or  if  there  is  a 
