The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-01-05
.cHRYsANTHEMUM TOILET.
A Process That Requires skill and
May Occupy Three Hours
to Complete.

The perfect chrysanthemum has not
vet been developed, but art may and
does step in TO aid nature in regulat-
ing details, just as it does with the hui
man being The chrysanthemums so
much admired at shows may have had
their toilets made with more care, and
at greater expenditure OF time and
patience, than has gone toward the
dressing of woman's hair.
1t takes three hours sometimes to
make the toilets of single rare speci-
men of the chrysanthemum. One look
atan ordinary chrysanthemum, or fine
one before being treated, will show that
there is hole at the center OF the
blossom, and that the petals struggle
in all directions, up and down, right and
left. 1t looks like a lazy boy who has
forgotten to comb his hair. The flower
hairdresser has his combs and brushes,
but the combs are pincers OF various
sizes and the brushes of the softest cam
els hair.
Suppose that the florist has succeed
ed in growing some fine specimens OF
that huge variety, My Lady, some bios
SONS of which have measured IA inches
in diameter. He cuts the blossom with
a long stem, SO that he can handle it
well. Then he places it in high glass
vase, with broad base, but over the
top of the vase is what looks like the
socket of candlestick with a hole in
1t. The stem passes through this hole
and down into the vase until the lower
petals of the blossom rest on the zinc
support, but not too firmly. Before put
ting the flower into the vase to keep
it from willing under the long opera.
ton he has performed the toughest
part of the work. This consists in pull
ing out with the pincers enough petals
around the center of the blossom to
permit the others to close over that
part. He is careful to remove any worms
or defective, discolored petals, and then
he begins the combing process, the
most tedious part of all. One by one
each petal is put in place SO that the
contour of the blossom will be either
a perfect circle or q star of many rays.
If any petal prove too obdurate tostay
in place it is pulled out by gentle
jerk with the pincers, of which there
are several sizes on hand, one. for the
work at the center and several others
for the combing process of finer or
coarser varieties. When every petal has
been put into place the work would
appear to be over, but this artist is
most fastidious; nothing but perfection
satisfies him, and he takes up camePs
hair brush, with which he gently
smooths out every wrinkle that is de-
tected by his practiced eye. Then, and
not till then, is My Lady ready for the
admiring throng at the exhibition.
This art of flower perfecting was first
introduced by the English florists in
their attempts to Guido one another by
showing the most perfect blossoms, but
it has spread to America and the con-
tinent, and is practiced by all those
seeking prizes at the chrysanthemum
shows. The process varies slightly, be-
ing somewhat more difficult when the
flowers are to be exhibited on the stalk,
in pots, but the hand Of the artistic
florist has been at work, no matter how
natural the flowers appear to the I'M
initiated. It is said that from three to
four years Of practice is necessary be-
fore~a man can be called an expert at
the task of making the toilet Of the
flowers, but he then commands a high
salary-N. Y. Sun.