The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-02-20
FOR THE FLORAL DEPARTMENT.
Hints on Arranging Out Flowers.

Partment-to whom in the line OF pleasure
or OF duty falls frequently the arrangement
OF cut flowers. an elder of their number
ventures suggestions from her observation
and experience.
We are at school to Dame Nature, and
who best follows this teachers copy is
most successful; no better compliment can
be paid to fingers deft in flower work than
that the result and effect they bring about
are natural. In manufactured flowers and
plants art IS now so near to nature that
sometimes fine, real flower is said to be
as perfect as an articifcial one; but this is
as the distinction between the very beauti-
full and exact machine made laces. and the
exquisite and more valuable hand-wrought
ones, the occasional imperfections and va
riations in which are their high proof and
guaranty. Ut would seem that flower
making, except of those monstrosities which
libel both nature and art, must be fascina-
ing and easy employment. but we are = as
sured to the contrary. They who indulge
IN this sort of decoration for person, or for
house in those localities where gardens are
impossible. know not the severe cost to
these sister-workers hands.)
This writer no longer essays the close,
hard bouquet, nor plates of color-rings
which she confesses having early perpe-
trated; willing to leave all formal devices
to the florists, who suit the public's varied
demand. But long stemmed, loose flowers
are great desideratum, apparently an in
creasing one with florists and their custom
ers; may the call for such multiply with
the increase of homes that afford them.
Especially by the profusion of fresh flowers
may the use of immortelles and all dry and
dead fancies Decline
For vases and jardinieres anywhere
mantel, table, or altar-long stems, and
mostly firm ones would be our first re-
quisite; for the deceptive rose bowls such
are a necessity against dumpy appearance.
The second condition would be uneven
height and outline, as nature generally
shows. The third point would be loose
arrangement; an unsatisfactory piece is
sometimes happily changed by withdrawal
of much of the material. An Individual
choice rose, or some rarer fower-possibly
two or three such of one sort-with its own
not less beautiful foliage, will often please,
and command compliment beyond guam
tity of the same flowers perhaps almost in
distinguishably massed We would choose
flor each separate vase) flowers in different
stages of development, generally avoiding
full blown ones; would place some at side
view; some at back. In cool weather
would cut them in the morning dew: in
hot weather, in earliest morning; else in
late evening dew, leaving them more or
less exposed out of doors in water over
night. For all fiat dishes (which allow
short stems) most of the conditions men
toned will apply.
Some one has latterly spoken wisely for
the use of clear white glass vases, which
show the stems of flowers, and so add eff
fectiveness. The mingling of varieties of
one or more kinds of flowers in one re-
ceptacle is, like all marriages, question of
harmony to which nature must train our
Eupatorium, Alyssum, the white Iasmines
and nearly all small white flowers are good