Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/853

* FLOWERS. 7 goffering-iron is simply a polished iron ball, mounted on an iron wire in a handle. It i- heati'd and waxed, the petal is placed ■ ion, ;iinl the iron pressed against it. A variety of other forms of goffering iron in usi prismal ic roils and bent wires. The stamens are made oi coai e yellow thread on which corn-meal is gummed. The centres of daisies are usually of ■ ool and col ton dyed yel low. Flowers are pul together whollj bj hand, and are liuilt up from (I ntre; the pi stamens are tied in a bunch to a piece of wire; the petals are arranged in order, and pasted; then the sepals of the calyx are pasted outside oi these, and further seemed by winding line thread or silk round the Lower parts. Other wires arc inclosed with this thread, and form the stalk, which is bound round with green tissue paper; and at proper intervals the leaves are inserted by means of fine wires, to which they are hound, the ends of these wires being bound in and in- corporated with the stalk, and concealed by the green paper, or a green rubber tubing ma be used for the stems. Buds are made of taffeta, tinted, and stiffened, and stuffed with cotton. When a variation of tint is desired on a petal it is colored with a brush. The petals are taken directly from the cutter to the artist, who per forms his work with great deftness and rapidity Twenty or thirty petals are spread out on a tray, and the artist touches up one after another with the paint prepared for the purpose. Besides the flowers copied from nature, there is a considerable demand for what are called 'fancy flowers.' most of which are invented by the manufacturer to use up waste and spoiled fragments originally designed tor Letter inn- poses. Flowers suitable for mourning arc pre- pared by coating leaves, flowers, etc.. with strong gum, and then dusting upon them powdered galena. This substance, a sulphuret of lead, is formed naturally in lustrous cubic crystals of a dark-gray color, and however finely it is pow dered, (lie fragments still tend to retain the same shape and surface, and thus present a number of flat glittering facets. It is used in like manner for cheap jewelry. FLOWERS, Language of, or Florigrapiiy. The language of flowers is supposed to have been used among the earliest nations; but the Greeks are the first users of whom we have any trust- worthy records. They carried it to a very high degree, using flowers as types of everything in teresting. public as well as private. The Romans also had a well-developed flower language, and its study was revived during the Middle Ages, when chivalry became preeminent ; and it re- ceived great development at the hands of the Roman Church. Flowers have had an important part in all mythologies. Oak was the patriot's crown, bay the poet'-, and the myrtle the crown for beauty. The olive was the token of peaci as the ivy was the emblem of Bacchus. The sig nificanee of many flowers is derived from their properties. The amaranth has been selected to typify immortality because of its duration. The rose, by universal suffrage made the the queen of the flowers, has a symbolism varying with its color; a single red rose signifies 'I love you:' the small white bridal rose typifies happy love: and the moss-rose bud. a confession of love. The fol- lowing are some well-known flowers, with their symbolism as used in poetry : •" FLOWERS. Anemoi e— ] cl Ooldoi i iraK» ment. Applu b Preferenci Hi opi Dei i alia '! a ion Dandi forget nie not I i love, P ■ ■ 1 i erltj Bno in— Virgin pride FLOWERS, National un> Symbolical. The use oi flowers as symbols began in verj early times, and has continued to the present daj •""one uearlj all aation lot, heal liters contain- many allusions to floral symbols, and China our,- possessed a complete floral alphi At the present day the Chinese make a la use of flowers in many of their public and ligious ceremonies, on occasions of a death, and bill ial. as well a- in 1 he decoi the temples of their deities, the graves ol their and their private dwellings. The monuments of Egypt and Assyria also upon their surfaces a .-,,,1,- ,.f floral callig- raphy whose meaning can now be but dimly guessed. Here the sacred lily, or I i ! gyp) plaj - a prominent part. It' i i t,, the gods, and became in timi thi national emblem. The Egyptian deitj tisiris (q.v.) is por hayed with his head crowned with this blossi it is painted on the walls and carved on doors of the temple-. India had in her magnificent flora a wonder ful field for poetical genius. The lot u- was here. and is now, the sacred llower. in it, bosom Brahma was believed to have been born: and is to the Hindus the chariot of their Cupid. whom they picture as first seen pinioned with flowers and floating down the sacred Ganges up it. The lotus became; through it- association with religious rites, an emblem of mystery, was hence frequently used for architectural adornment. Among the Hindus distingui strangers are welcomed with garlands of flowers as tokens of hospitality, and the shrines of their favorite deities are decorated with the-,- emblems. In Persia a yearly festival is held called the •feast of roses.' which lasts a- |,,„g a- the roses bloom. The literatures and languages of the Hindu. Turkish. Persian. Arabic, and M races abound in floral symbols. In Japan lotus is a symbol of purity. The Japanese pic- ture their deity reclining upon the leaf of a water-lily, or lotus, and often name their chil- dren after beautiful flowers. The chrysanthe- mum, or 'golden flower.' is the national emblem. and the country i- popularly called the "Land of Chrysanthemums,' and a daj i- yearly Bet apart in that country for the 'festival of chrys- anthemums.' From earlj days there have been two royal crests in Japan: one is the paulownia- tree, which is -ecu onlj on the seal- of the Emperor's family: the other, the chrysanthe- mum, which is used for all governmental sym- bols outside the palace. The flower i- i ered on their flags anil banner-, and printed on important papers. It i- stamped on their -ilks and ha- decorated their finest porcelain for hun- dreds of years. European florigraphy had its rise in Oreeee, and many of tile old floral custom- -till linger about tlie Grecian islands. The Greeks not onlv