Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-08-29
TOPRESERVE CUTFLOWERS


Simple but Effective Measures For i'ro'
longing Their Life.
The woman who wishes to enjoy
the whole of tao short lifo of her
cut flowers, instead of only II small
portion of it, will not settle down
upon any one undertaking method
for preserving them, but will rather
vary it, according to tho different
causes which lead to their decay.
Take, for instance, tho flowers of
a sucoulent nature like the iris. The
stems, when put into water, slough
away and soon give forth an un-
pleasant odoY. There arc two rome.
dies which may be applied i'll this
.,aso. Either ono should put II mild
disinfeotant in tho water and fro.
quently change it or out off tho ends
of the stalks at short intervals.
A good point to remember in gath
erin flowers of the iris family, and
indeed all succulont plants like the
primrose, tho snowdrop, the lily and
the poppy, is to lick them whilo still
in tho bud, as they will often suck
up enough water to quito carry out
their natural life.
Another flower whose stcm most
rapidly decays and corrupts tho WA
ter is the mignonettc, and it is often
best, therefore. to sacrifice it whilo
its head is still freshly green. Hello
trope, like mignonette, should al
ways DO put in wator by itself, for
it not only fades and turns brown
rapidly, but it will kill almost amy
flower put with it.
Tho cause of decay in hard wood
ell plants lilo the azlca md caIucllia
is that they do not take up enough
water, not that they havo any tend
ENJOY to rolluto it, so that to cut
their stalks frequently would BIO Of
little avail. The hard. lrittlo wood
has no power of absorption, but it,
whom putting such flowers in II vase
or bowl, you mako sure that tho low
est leaves attached to tho blossoms
arc under water, tho effect is magic
al. Tho tender green of tho fresh
leaf absorbs the water and acts as q
conductor, in its turn nourishing
the blossom. Ferns, and cEouially
maidcnhair, arc very ShC.t lived
whom they have to look tn tho stem
alonc for nourish mcn!, and tho most
efIectua way to preserve thcm is
to SEQ that the lower part Ct uvcry
frond is we'll under ator. Cut flow
ers require as II rule IL far larger
quantity of water than is given
them, though tho caIacious bowls
and vases now in vogue como much
nearer meeting their wants than tho
slender, elegant forms that continue
to adorn our cabinets and mantcls.
Wo must DO guided in our cxpccta-
tons CT tho longevity of a flower.
however, Iy its normal lifo and not
expect the frail blossom Of day to
rival tho splendid orchid in its three
weeks duration.
Flowers should always 10 placed
in water as soon us possible after be-
ing picked. When received by post
in q somewhat wiltcd condition, an
immediate plunge. into hot water
with a little sal volatile will accom-
plish wonders in the way Of reviving
them.
Lilac. laburnum and azaleas re-
quiro to have a piece of the bark
stripped up and left hanging, and
this, with tho addition Of few
leaves in the water, will often keep
tliom in quito n fresh condition for
weeks.
The bouquet which you have car
ried during an evening will DO sure
to revive again if you will spray it
we'll with water and put it under
bell glass, and if you wish to wear
flowers in your hair or on your cor
sage they may DO made to retain
their freshness for m entire evening
by putting bit of sealing wax over
tho Cnds.-Ncw York Sun.