The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-07-12
Hints ON the Arrangement Of Flowers

To arrange bouquet, or to dress a
vase with skill and taste, is no mean ac
complishment, requiring, as it does, a
thorough knowledge of the relative
value of colors much taste in produc
ing harmonious blending or skillful con-
trast; a judicious use of spray and
greenery to tone down the brightness,
and, above all, natural aptitude and
liking for the work The composition
of every bouquet should form a study;
all formality and stiffness must be avoid
ed, and as close an approach as possible
to &C natures sweet simplicity" ought to
! be aimed at. Overcrowding is an error
too often met with. | have seen bou-
| quets, so-called, which were compact
mass of roses, and whose entire surface
bristled with buds, the only aim of the
maker appearing to be the crowding to-
gether of as many flowers as possible in
a certain space. The advantage of be-
ing able to throw few flowers together
quickly and effectively can hardly. be
overrated.
In selecting flowers for this purpose,
too great variety is to be avoided; a few
fine blossoms, whose colors are compile
mentary to each other, if well arranged,
will invariably afford greater satisfac-
ton than the most complicated compo-
sition. 1t should always be remember
ed that when two colOred surfaces are in
juxtaposition, they mutually influence
each other-hence the importance of
placing side by side those flowers whose
form and color are best adapted to har-
mOnize or contrast. When a person Is
thoroughly conversant with the relative
value of the primitive colors and their
complementaries, it becomes an easy
matterto effect harmonious combinations
of their various shades. Form, size,
lures to be studied in the formation of
bouquet. A circular and convex form
is the most pleasing. But it is in the
size of bouquet that bad taste is often
visible. A hand bouquet which is nine
inches in diameter would appear to be
quite large enough, but often the tyrant
Fashion demands much larger size.
When we regard the arrangement OF
the flowers, while avoiding the formal
appearance of regular circles, two meth
DDS of equal excellence may be pursued
The first of these consists in blending
,, together number of flowers, with due
1 proportion of their buds and foliage
whose forms and colors best tend to pro
duce pleasing whole. The second con
sists in arranging side by side masses O.
9 color, each mass containing three OF
more flowers of the same kind, land these
masses are interspersed with the frond
! of ferns or other suitable foliage.
IL l. ho1I off
: is secured, while too much formality i
avoided. Although bouquets for tn
hand undoubtedly demand skill on th
part of the maker, yet they rank secon'
in importance to the bouquet for tn
vase, fiOwer-table, or basket. In an ar
t rangement of flowers for this purpose
a due regard must be paid to the form o
e the vessel to be decorated, as well as th
place it is to occupy when the arrange
ment is completed. A large, tall vas
e for a center-table should contain large
l. aowers and bolder mass of color tha
e one which is to occupy position of les
e Importance; but in using strong colors
all tendency to glare or heaviness mus
e be particularly guarded against. Ere
. quently, after dressing vase, it is foun
II desirable to remove a flower or two a
= parts which have become so crowded a
IS to appear heavy; for in the arrangin
of flowers in vases, water only can b
IS used, and as the flowers have no suppo1
{, for their stems, it is at times a difficu]
q matter to arrange them satisfactorily.
n may hereafter write somewhat more ul
n on this subiect.-F. r. Elliott, IN Com
try Gentleman.