The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-10-25
Rules for Making Bouquets.

LIST. The color of the vase to be used is of
Importance. Gaudy reds and blues should
never be chosen, for they conflict with the
delicate hues of the a1wers. Bronze or
black vases, dark green, pure white, or silver,
always produce good effect, and so does a
straw basket, while clear glass, which shows
the graceful clasping of the stems, is perhaps
prettiest of all.
I'd. The shape of the vase is also to be
thought Of, For the middle of dinner-ta-
BILE, a round bowl is always appropriate, or
tall vase with saucer shaped base. Or,
if the centre of the table is otherwise occu-
pied, large conch shell, or shell-shaped dish,
may be swung from the chandelier above,
and with plenty of vines and featheriug
green, made to look very pretty. Delicate
flowers, such as lilies of the valley and sweet
peas, should be placed by themselves in sen-
der tapering glasses; violets should nestle
their fragrant purple in some tiny cup, and
pansies be Sc, in groups, with no gayer flow
ers to contradict their soft velvet hues; and
this is hint for summer-few' things are
prettier than balsam- blossoms, or double va
riegated hollyhocks, massed on fat plate,
with fringe of green to hide the edge. No
leaves should be intersperSed with these; the
plate will look like solid mosaic of splendid
color.
Sd. Stiffness and crowdng are the two
things to be specially avoided in arranging
flowers. What can be uglier than the great
tasteless lunches into which the ordinary
florist ties his wares, or what more extrava-
CANT? A skillful person will unite one of
these, and, adding green leaves, make the
same flowers into half dozen bouquets, each
more effective than the original. Flowers
should be grouped as they grow, with cloud
of light foliage in and about them to set off
their forms and colors.
4th. 1t is better, as a general rule, not to
put more than one or two sorts of flowers
into the same vase. A great bush with roses,
and camelias, and carnations, and feverfew,
and geraniums growing on it all at once
would be frightful thing to behold; just so
monstrous bouquet made up of all these
flowers is meaningless and ugly. Certain
flowers, such as heliotrope, miguonette, and
myrtle, mix well with everything; but usu-
ally it is better to group flowers with their
kline, roses in one glass, geranums in an
other, and not try to make them agree in
companies.
5sh. When you do mix flowers, be careful
not to put colors which clash side by side
Scarlets and pinks spoil each other; so do
blues and puppies, and yellows and mauves.
If your vase or dish is a very large one, to
hold great number of flowers, it is good
plan to divide it into thirds or quarters,
making each division perfectly harmonious
within itself, and then blend the whole with
lines of green and white, and soft neutral
tnts. Every group of mixed flowers requires
one little touch of yellow to make it vivid; ;
but this must be skillfully applied. 1t is
good practice to experiment with this effect.
For instance, arrange a group of maroon,
scarlet, and white geraniums with green
leaves, and add single blossom of gold col
ored calceolabria, you will see at once that
the whole bouquet seems to flash out and be-
come more briliant.-From "Wowers IN
Winter" st. Nicholas, Nou.