CUT FLOWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21880, 16 August 1934, Page 4

CUT FLOWERS

BEST DECORATIVE EFFECTS A few flowers carefully arranged to *give the very best effect will look far more pleasing and artistic than masses of expensive blooms merely "put in water."

It is often more effective, for instance, to use only a very few of the larger and more.' expensive flowers, mingled with smaller ones either of exactly tho same colour or one which affords a pleasing contrast, such as blue with pale yellow, pale pink and mauve, lied flowers aro best kept to their colour. '

In this connection, however, it must be borne in mind thai certain flowers, notably those with woody or very glutinous stems, do not agree well when mixed with other flowers in water, neither do they last long. Lilac, roses and such woody-stemmed flowers will keep fresh much longer if the stem is skinned at the bottom and placed in hot water. Mimosa will keep its fluffy appearance longer, too, if put in hot water.

Tulips, which droop quickly, are generally limp when bought and are apt to stiffen in their bent position when put into water. Tho best way to straighten them is to lay them straight and roll them into a cone of newspaper, then put them in water, removing the paper when the stems have stiffened. To keep any flowers fresh it. is, of course, important to change the water often and to cyt a short piece from the stems of the flowers when doing so.