GRACEFUL TABLE FLOWERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 36, 5 November 1937, Page 13

GRACEFUL TABLE FLOWERS

In arranging flower decorations the use of some graeeful and not too obtrusive a nfiture to give contrast and eniiance the appeararice of th© xemainder of the fiOwers in us© is found to be very desirable. There are & ntxmber of grasses, ferns and shrubs, both wild afid cUltiVated, which are very much used for this purposo. Gum tipa are very largely used by Xrofists and otheds and Very euitable for this purpose. Gum tips necessitate going to some bushland to obtfiiu them, aad to save time and tfauble-fotfiglijg rtmnd for them it will be best t© grow something itt cur ewn ground that will" answer the purpose.There are several grasses which lend themselves for this purpose. Leaves of plants such as maidenhair fern, sacred bamboo and others. They certainly add very much to ihe charm of the fiowor arrdhgemeui. One of the best aids in this process of embelliahment is the gypsophilay .Which is known also as fiaby's breath» This plant i© best if rais6d ffom se6d/ iaiid does not take kindly td tranSplant'ing. Th© soil must b© in good tlith, not, too heavy and not too light. ■ It'loves iiine^ and some rubbish from aii old building is just what it lifees. Lime iS essential to its success, and when sowing, an application should be firSt ap-, plied and well watered in. After applying the lime and allowing a week or 1 two to elapse, a good dressing of old manure must be dug well in. Por success in flowering they must be well fed. The seeds are somewhat difficult to germinate and as previously stated are delieate about moving, so that the best way is to Sow Wher© they are to grow. Make a smOoth "ettrrace, and cover the seeds lightly with soil. Thin out to six inches apart, pulllng up the weakest plants. The seed should be sown in autumn or spring. There are several kinds. both perennials and annuals, as followS: Perfenaias, G« Panioulata, lg inches, white. Annuals: G Carmineam eolour, " rdse. 12 to 16 inch&S; G. EleganS. Grfindiflora Alba, white, 12, to 17 inches. The taller ones Will do well in boxes, and the sma'fler dnes as borders, or in beds. They will be useful to make pleasing contrasts among any flowers.