The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-09-02
Hanging Baskets.

This graceful and convenient form
| of decoration increases in popularity
| from year to year. Many city home
which would otherwise be destitute
! of floral adornment is frightened by
! them, and in the country among peo-
| pie of taste and refinement they are be-
coming more and more common.
Mateyiul.-The baskets themselves
are made of wire, terra Gotta or wood.
The first named is the most usual, but
the small terra Gotta baskets are eX-
tremely neat and elegant for bay VIM
dOws or other interior situations.
They possess with the rustic wood
baskets the additional advantage over
the wire of retaining moisture longer,
and thus suffering less from neglect of
frequent watering. The wood baskets
generally consist of a turned wooden
bowl, covered over with twigs and
roots to give it rustic appearance.
When this kind of basket is used, care
should be exercised to see there are a
few holes in the bottom to permit
drainage. The matter is scarcely ever
attended to by the makers, and florists
who sell them ready filled with plants
are apt to neglect it. The consequence
Is that the basket soon becomes water
logged, and the plants contained in it
die of wet feet. Where provision for
drainage has been neglected until after
the basket is filled, holes may he bored
from the outside, and the dropsical
condition relieved. The wire baskets
are first lined with thick moss and al
terward filled with earth, into which
the growing plants are set. They
must be watercd every day, as the dry
ing air penetrates them OH every side.
A new style of wire basket is pro-
vided with zinc reservoir beneath,
which holds weeks supply of water.
These are convenient but expensive.
Selection Of I'tants.-Thc central
portion of the basket should bc filled
with upright plants of "a neat dwarf
habit, and around the olge those of
creeping or trailing growth. But
while basket filled with any bright,
thrifty plants of suitable habit of
growth, is thing of beauty, it is far
better to make such a combination of
color as to present harmonious living
picture. The colors not only of the
Il ,wers, but also of the foliage en-
plOyed, should be studied with a view
to this effect. Our greenhouses funish
such q variety of plants with orna- |
mental foliage-crinison, golden, white
bronze, purple anu silvery- |
almost any desired effect OF color can
be produced Independently of the bios
SONS. When less complicated styIe
is preferred, a basket may be made |
beautiful by its very simplicity. In
such cases single plant is sufficient,
provided it makes up by its luxuri-
ince OF growth for the lack of variety.
We saw very attractive basket re-
Gently, which was completely WREATH
eel with the rich foliage and bright
flowers OF all iyy per-
inium. A plant Of Sazifragg sarmen-
tOSa, commonly called Strawberry
IeraniuIn, set III the center of small
basket, will soon cover the surface
With leaves, while the long tendrils
md tassel-likc stOlons droop graceful
y down the sides. Another useful
)lant in this way is the Convolvulus
single specimen OF
which will soon make the basket u
'ich mass Of bright green foliage and
,lue flowers.
Country Bdskets.-No one need be
[eprived OF hanging baskets on ac-
cunt OF the renlOteness from green
ouse plants. No baskets are produce
d more exquisite than can be made by
ldiciOus use of the plants found in
he forests and fields. The basket it.
Elf may De made OF woven twigs, the
nd OF al old keg covered over with
Istic branches and roots, or the steel
)rings OF superannuated hoopskirt.
hen Ior filling, the forest furnishes
1undahce of moss, rich, light soil, and
rns, partridgeberry. saxiflages, and
the immense variety of other plants
hich love to nestle in its shades or :
Elk its open sunny banks.