TO MAKE FLOWERS LAST

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1914, Page 2

TO MAKE FLOWERS LAST

WILL,KEEP FRESH FOR WEEKS.

■ * '^rft flow, ers aie s^roe; it is import ttet: ios«:-wliiclf ;w fc^cur^ should be made to last as long as" pos-; ?R le- : V -M? st , people wiU nowadays--" take, the trouble to'keep the bloomssupplied with fresh water, and-also-cut the stalks afresh, every day. Apartfrom these .precautions, there are certain plans which may be a'dopted in order-to-lengthen the life of the flow•r. A few of these will probably be or interest tp readers. Certain simple chemicals dissolved in the water m which the flowers are Placed will very much help to maintain the blossom m a good condition -1 Carbonate of soda is extremely KelpfuF "f.ttos respect, and about a teaspoon--tui should be allowed; to each pint of ■ water used. -This, is;,a:-rery scienifei&c -" treatment, for -the has-a niar;Mea effect, on.the'cellsroft^ the chemical encourages a very free - absorption of moisture. Camphor and salt have > ; similar effect, though we must always .take care to make the-v solution a weak one. ..?*} '.'s}©' ease of flowers which are ■ ; really drooping badly, a more drastic plan must be followed. Often enough • one receives a box of blossoms through the post, lovely flowers, perhaps, but all m a withered condition. If they have any-life in them at all the following plan may be adopted with confi- - dence:-,-Gcit a bowl of boiling water,.and as soon as it has actually ceased : simmering, plunge the stalks of the - flowers into it. Now remove the whole thing to a cool, dark cupboard, and leave the flowers until the water is coid. By this time it is more - thanlikely .that the blooms will have pick- - ed up amazingly. Of course, when placing m the vase the blossoms must • be given fresh cold water. In'the case of flowers which are really old a revival may often be brought about :. it the above treatment is followed with the addition of.a small lump of camphor added to the water. Now and again isfc- may be desired to? Keep flowersfor a long time. A special event may be comicg off, say, in a week or so's time, and for this^it is necessary to keep the .blossoms^M astresh a state as possible. The fdtfbwing plan may be adopted witti;-rgW results:—Get a fair-sized pie disb/4nd ■"V.-W-about a' ttu'd full with sand which has been rendered thoroughly damp. Now stick the stalks of the blooms into the sand, and cover the specimens with any glass vessels - which may be handy; Tumblers or glass jam jars may be used according Uy the size of the blossoms/ Tn| whole arrangement should be kept in a light position, though nothing iii the Z^^i "^Mn* must Sbe pert mittedjfco fall on the glass covers; If there is _any sign of mould on theBtnd^\ iew- dr °Ps of carboUc acil .hould be put on to a piece of cotton-' plan,.. C^-e should be taken to examflowers every few days, as all decayed portions should be atrt>nce removed. A simple "wav of'keeping flowers is that of just putting them into biscuit tins.;. Here the blossoms should be put in just as th^y are, without any sprinklings of water.: : Although they will not keep so long in this way as they wotftd' under the glass treatment, nearly all kinds will be fresh after hiving beem m the tin for a; week. .