CUT FLOWERS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 70, 15 December 1939, Page 16

CUT FLOWERS

How To Care For Them With all garden Howers which are prolific bloomers, such as sweet peas, pansies, violets, constant cutting promotes a constant succession of bloom. When gathering the flowers, use a sharp knife and make a long, slanting cut. Use deep containers and bowls, filled with water. . Cut the stems a little above their ends every few days and replace the water in the container with a fresh supply. In some cases burning or charring the ends of the stems has been advised.

In general, especially in hot weather, remove the leaves which; are immersed in the water. With some flowers, such as the heliotrope, dahlias, hollyhocks and mignonette and the common garden poppy, immersion of the cut ends for a minute in hot water is said to be beneficial.

The best time to cut flowers in the garden is egrly morning. Flowers cut in the bud stage or Jus: after opening will last longest. It is best to leave cut flowers, either those just gathered or those obtained from the florist, in a deep container filled with water, in a cool room, for a few hours before bringing them into the living-room.

Keep the air of the room in which flowers are used as decoration, as cool and moist as is consonant with comfort.

Remove flowers to a cool place at night. Even minute amounts of illuminating gas or of coal gas in the air of the room are injurious to plants. Do not allow bright sunlight to shine upon cut flowers.