Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-15
PALMS FOR EASTER.
Fashion Has Dictated That They Be
Used in House Decoration.
NOT VERY HARD TO CULTIVATE,
Styles in Designs and Baskets That Cest
Hundreds of Dollars
LOOSE BUEcHES INSTEAD OF BOUQUETS
WRITTEN FOR THE prsPArcH.t

rwRrrrEN FOR THE D1sPATcHI
The fashion in flowers changes considers
bly, in the course of a few years, and it in
not always possible to tell in advance which
one of Flora's daughter is to make her de-
but before the exacting public and become
the reigning favorite. A dozen years ago
the rage for roses began, and at certain
times Of the year nine-tenrhs Of the whole
bulk of flowers used in making baskets,
bouquets and other floral designs are roses.
In the fall and early winter months the
chrysanthemums now dispute the first place
with the roses, while the orchids are loom
ing up as the most fashionable OF all flowers
for decorations
As Easter approaches, however, the palms
and lillies gradually attract more attention,
and the fashionable world adopts the flowers
OF the season for decoration. OF late years
the palms. emblems of victory, have come
into more general use for house decoration
than almost any other plant, and of the liz
different varieties of this family, there are
many that are unique and beautiful in form,
color and texture.
Easily Grown in the House.
They are cultivated only for their decora-
tive properties, elegance and beauty, and
those that are suited for house culture should
receive the attention which they deserve.
Though plants of tropical elimes, they are
easily propagated in ordinary houses, and
very little difficulty is experienced in keep
ing them, II good ones are purchased from
the florists. Some varieties of palms NAV
be had for Is cents apiece, and the others
range from this price to several dollars.
The finest of the palms for house culture
is the celebrated Pbenix rupicols, native
Of India, found growing on the Sandstone
Mountains, and introduced here about ten
years ago. The grace and beauty of its
fern-like foliage makes beautiful offset to
some of the larger and more stately palms.
The chamarops excelsa, the kempen palm
OF China, is fine house palm that can be
used for lawn-planting in the summer. In
the Southern States it reaches quite growth
In the gardens, sometimes attaining height
of 20 to 30 feet. The chamarops humllis. or
dwarf fan palm, is another variety that
should be cultivated for Its decorative effects.
The seeds of this palm are sometimes four
months in terminating, and it pays much
better to purchase the plants already partly
grown than attempt to raise them from seeds.
The latania barbonica, the Bourbon palm, the
leaves of which are used for the well-known
palm leaf fans. is one of the best species for (
house culture. The palms have always been /
favorably considered by the fashionable world.
but this year they have received more than
common notice, and they are really the reign
ing plant. They are used in all kinds OF floral
decoration, and literally the palm bears OF the
palm"
Fashions In Floral Designs.
The modes of constructing floral designs also
vary considerably from year TO year, and one
cannot ignore the dictates of fashion in this
respect. One Of the present fashions in
flowers Is to match the dress in color SO far as
possible in corsage and hand bouquets and the
furniture in flowers for decoration OF rooms.
In the house every conceivable design is made
in fowers-shields, stars, wreaths. rainbows
and canopies for weddings. A beautiful and
novel design for funeral work is formed from
the pressed leaves of the imperial silver tree,
which are now being imported for this work.
The leaves glisten and shine like silver when
properly prepared, and they give novel effect
when placed on the top of casket with silver
mountings. The attempts to grow the tree
here have so far proved disastrous, and nearly
all Of the leaves are dried and pressed In Italy,
where the tree grows in the open air, and iIn-
ported to this country in that state. They are
some baskets of flowers.
Beautiful and tasty baskets Of flowers are
made up OF roses. lily OF the valley. and fern
leaves, but, but the most expensive are those
filled with rare and beautiful orchids. These
come at such high rates that none bur the very
wealthy can afford to use them. The cost OF
one Of these baskets is often several hundred
dollars.
The Cost of House Decoration.
The cost Of decorating the rooms on rare oc.
casions varies from $500 to 5000; but these
high figures are due to the injury done to the
flowers in transportation in our variable
climate. Florists have to receive at least 25 per
cent of the value of the plants per hight to in
sure themselves against loss, which frequently
comes from injury to the plants from the
weather. careessneSs and impure air.
The kinds Of plants used for the decoration
of public halls, churches and private dwellings,
this year are comparatively few, and are such
as are valued for grace of form and foliage
more than for flower. The place where the
plants are to be used determines their size and
kind. II 1t is a large hall to be decorated large
palms are used, often six feet in height and
diameter. II in church and home decoration
the plants are simply to be placed on the plat
forms, the Towering plants, particularly at
Easter, should have the preference.
In corsage bouquets only one kind of flower
Is used, generally the rose. The roses are now
all used with long stems, and the colors should
be selected to match the dress. Loose punches
of flowers have to large extent replaced the
old formal bouquets and baskets. From the
great range of colors in the roses and chrysan-
they may be had to match almost
every shade of dress except blue, and probably
partly for this reason these two flowers receive
so much attention for corsage and hand bous
Quets. HELEN WHARBURDoN.