FLOWER ARRANGEMENT 357

TYPES OF ARRANGEMENTS

Line Arrangements. Compositions in which the element of
line is of first importance are known as line arrangements. Only
a relatively small amount of plant material is used in order that
the beautiful and characteristic lines of plant growth will show
clearly. A favorite line arrangement consists of three sprays of
different lengths that go in the same direction or suggest a triangle.
Some suitable materials are: columbines, petunias, iris, ixias, tiger
lilies, bleeding hearts, Japanese quince, willow, and grasses.

Americans have learned from the Japanese how to appreciate
and to create line arrangements. The influence of Japanese re-
straint, line emphasis, asymmetrical balance, triangular composi-
tion, and use of foliage, buds, and plain containers has been exten-
sive. Americans adapt these Oriental ideas with good results.

Mass Arrangements. Full-bodied compositions in which a
comparatively large amount of plant material is employed are
known as mass or massed arrangements. The grouping as a whole
and the color are more important than line interest. Mass com-
positions may be compact, semi-compact, or airy.

Mass arrangements may be natural, stylized, or of a period type.
The natural effects are suitable for modest flowers in informal
rooms. Stylized contemporary mass arrangements have a center
of interest, segregated colors, and sometimes linear patterns within
the mass. Period arrangements are adaptations of those used in
the palaces of Europe at historic periods. Colonial, Federal, and
Victorian arrangements are described on the following page.

Combination or Line-plus-Mass Arrangements. This popu-
lar type of arranging is contemporary American in origin. Line-
plus-mass compositions combine the best features of line arrange-
ments and mass arrangements; the charm of a color mass is
augmented by line interest. The mass should not be much more
important than the line element even though it provides the focal
point and weight at the base of the composition.

Design is emphasized in these arrangements; they are usually
stylized, in fact they may be so severely stylized as to be entirely
Modern. In such combination arrangements colors are segregated
and so are the different kinds of flowers. Some popular shapes of
line-plus-mass arrangements are: the triangle, pyramid, circle, up-
right semicircle, crescent, fan, and S curve (Hogarth).