How to Preserve Cut Flowers.
An important rule, though seldom regarded, says Popular Science News, United States, America, is never to cram the vases with flowers. Many will last if only they have a large mass of water in the vase, and not too many stalks to feed on the water and pollute it. Vases that can hold a large quantity of water are to be preferred to the spindle-shaped trumpets that are often used. Flat dishes filled with wet sand are also useful for short-stalked or heavy-headed flowers; even partially withered blooms will revive when placed on this cool, moist substance. Moss, though far prettier than sand, is to be avoided, as it so soon smells disagreeably, and always interferes with the scent of the flowers placed in it for preservation. In the case of flowers that grow only in a cool temperature, and suffer when they get into warm and dry air, all that we can do is to lessen evaporation as much as possible, and when such flowers have hairy stems and leaves, to submerge them for a minute, so that by capillary attraction they may continue to keep themselves moist and cool; but this is dangerous to tablecloths or polished surfaces, unless care be taken that the points of the leaves do not hang down, to - prevent dripping. Another means of preventing delicate and sweet-scented flowers from flagging is to cut them with several leaves on the stem, and when the flower-head is placed in water, to allow only this head to remain above the water, while the leaves are entirely submerged. By this means the leaves seem to help to support the flower, which will then last for three days in a fairly cool room. Frequent cutting of the stem is of great use ; but with all flowers, by far the best plan is to put them outside, exposed to dew or rain, during the night, when they will regain strength enough to last for days. All Australian plants, particularly flowering acacias, are benefited wonderfully by this apparent cruelty, and will even stand a slight frost far better than a hot room at night indoors.
How to Preserve Cut Flowers.
Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 27
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