Cape Jasmine

(GARDENIA.) Sweetness.



The petals are cut in thick wax, or single wax doubled; when the latter

is the case, be careful to place the two shining sides together. It is

particularly easy to form: the petals require to be curled precisely as

the yellow jasmine. The centre is formed by crushing two or three small

pieces of orange wax to the point of a wire. The first five small petals

are very faintly tinged w th orange; this is merely to give warmth to

the centre of the flower, to make up for the deficiency of the

life-glow, if I may use this term--great care must therefore be taken

not to make it too dark. All the succeeding petals are placed on in rows

of five, turning some of the petals forward towards the centre of the

flower.



The neck of the flower is already formed from the ends of the petals; it

only requires to be moulded very smooth, and coloured a light pomona

green. The calyx consists of five points of green wax, placed at the end

of the tube. The dark foliage is placed round in clusters, and produces

a pleasing contrast to the flower. I would here observe, that this

flower is particularly useful in grouping. It is a greenhouse

production, and extremely fragrant in nature; it is consequently always

consistent to place it in a bouquet; independently of this, it is an

excellent substitute for white camellia in groups, where the last named

flower would be too large.



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I shall proceed to give some instruction in Roses. The varieties now

grown and named in our nurseries amount to the almost incredible number

of two thousand. I shall therefore choose, for the information and

improvement of those ladies who kindly think proper to place themselves

under the guidance of my little book, about six kinds, such as I deem

most useful, and as being different in form and colour. I think, when

these are perfectly understood, any other kind can be copied easily from

nature. I shall commence with the old favourite,