Year: 1875

The art of arranging bouquets is very sim
pie, If one only Possesses good eye for
color and has some idea of tasteful combina-
ton. At present the most elegant bouquets
are those in which the flowers Of the season
are skilifully arranged according to their
hues, fragrance being usually made subser-
Went to color. Having collected the flowers
to be used, upon 4 tray, all supertluous
leaves should be stripped from the stems,
and by placing the flowers side by side You
can decide upon the order in which they will
be most adyantageously displayed. \ very
prettily-shaped hand-bouquet can be made
by taking small straight stick, about the
size of your little finger, and then tie ball
Of green or brown wool to the top of it, and
begin by fastening on few delicate flowers,
or one large, handsome one, for the centre
piece, winding the wool around each stem as
you add the flowers and leaves to the bou-
quet. Always place the flowers with the
shortest stems at the top. rcserying all those
with long stems for the base, and finish off
the bouquet with fringe of fincly-cut
foliage, such As that of ferns and lycopo-
diuns. Now cut all the stalks evenly and
wrap damp cotton about them, and cover
the stems with paper cut in pretty lace de-
signs. In making bouquets from garden
flowers, such as are usually sent by one
friend to another, the flowers can be ar
ranged fatty and to do this good supply
Of green sprays are required for the back
ground. We have found small branches of
arbor vitae, hemlock, and even spruce quite
desirable for this purpose. The tree box,
sprays OF lilac, twigs of bay, lavender, or
even of the currant-bush will also not be in
appropriate. With plenty of pretty foliage,
a very few well-grouped flowers can produce
most charming effect while without such
assistance the handsomcst flowers may fail
to show to good advantage, owing to the alb


rupt contrast in which rival shades appear.
As general rule, however, the foliage Of
each flower supplies its own most beautiful
background. The lily of the Valley Is an
illustration of this fact, as it is never 50 per-
feet as when displayed in the shadow of its
own deep green leaves but the sweet pea,
most lovely in itself, requires the foliage of
the sweet clover, with its odorous white
racemes of flowers, or sprays of gypsophia,
to exhibit in its perfection. Bat with II lit
tie ingenuity other leaves and sprays may be
made to do duty with good effect. When
your garden bouquet is finished, if it is to
be presented to n friend, pluck large leaf
with little of its stem, from rhubarb
plant and lay the bouquet upon it to keep
the flowers cool and fresh and enyelop them
in its shade to exclude the air and light 1t
serves the purpose much better than paper.
In making garden bouquets to send away as
tokens OF affection one should remember
that the flowers will probably be taken
apart, and therefore, be careful not to tie
them too closely with twine or thread.
Lamp-wicking is much more desirable than
any other string. because, being very soft
and pliable, it does not bind The stems too
closely, and at the same time, if wetted, it
retains the moisture as well as cottonwood


If you would send the flowers any distance,
, do not sprinkle them with water. 1t causes
them to shed their petals.