Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-17
Rule. for MaLipr.no

1st. The color Of the vase 10 be used is
of importance. Candy reds and blues
should never he chosen, for they conflict
with the delicate hues of the flowers.
Bronze or black vases, dark green, pure
white, or silver, always produce good eff
feet, 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 Ia
BILE, round bowl is always appropriate, or
tall vase with a saucer-shaped base. Or,
If the center of the table is otherwise Uecu-
pied, large conch shell, or shell-shaped
dish, may be swung from the chandelier
above, and with plenty OF vines and feath-
ering green, made to look very pretty.
Delicate flowers, such as lilies Of The valley
and sweet-peas, should be placed by them
selves in slender tapering glasses; violets
should nestle their fragrant purple in some
tiny cup, and pansies be set in groups, with
no gayer flowers TO contradict their soft
velvet hues and-this is a hint for sum-
mer-few things are pretter than balsam-
blossoms, or double varegated hollyhocks,
massed on fiat plate, with a 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 crowding 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 extrav-
IL nj
OF these, and, adding green leaves, make
The same flowers into half dozen bou-
quet, 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 10
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 be-
hold Just so q monstrous bouquet made
up of all these flowers Is meaningless and
ugly. Certain flowers, such as heliotrope,
mignonette, and myrtle, mix well with ev-
erythipg; but usually ii is better to group
flowers with their kind,-roses in one
glass, geraniums in another, and not try to
make them agree in companies.
9Th. When you do mix flowers, be care
full not 10 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 very
large one, 10 hold a great number OF flow
ers, it is good plan to divide it into thirds
or quarters, making each division perfect
| ly harmonious within itself aud then blend
the whole with lines OF green and white,
and soft neutral tint. Every group of mix
ed flowers requires one little touch of yell
low 10 make II vivid; but this must he
skllfully applied. II is good practice to
experiment with this effect. For instance,
arrange a group OF maroon, scarlet, and
white geranums with green leaves, aud
add a single blossom OF gold colored calce-
olaria, you will see at once that the whole
bouquet seems 10 flash out and become
brilliant.-FrOnl "FlOWers in Winter." 81
Nicholas, Nov.