The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-11-20
WOMAN AND HOME.
CARE OF CUT FLOWERS.
Useful Hints for the Preservation OF
Clipped Blossoms.

Useful Hints for the Preservation OF
Clipped Blossoms.
The woman who wishes to enjoy the
whole of the short life Of her cut How
ers instead of only small portion OF
it will not settle down upon any one
undertaking method of preserving
them, but will rather vary it according
to the different causes which lead 10
their decay.
Take, for instance, the flowers OF
succulent nature like the iris. The
stems when put into the water slough
away and soon give forth an unpleasant
odor. There are two remedies which
may be applied in this case; either one
should put mild disinfectant in the
water and frequently change it, or cut
off the ends of the stalks at short in
tervals.
A good point to remember in gather
ing flowers of the iris family, and, in
deed, all succulent plants like the prim-
rose, the snowdrop, the lily and poppy,
is to pick them while still in the bud,
as they will often suck up enough water
to quite carry out their natural life. .
Another flower whose stem most
rapidly decays and corrupts the water
is mignonette, and it is often pest,
therefore, to sacrifice it while its head
is still freshly green. Heliotrope, like
mignonette, should always be put IN
water by itself, for it not only fades
and turns brown rapidly. but it VIII
kill almost any flower put with 1t.
The cause of decay in hard-wooded
plants like the azalea and camella is
that they do not take up enough water
not that they have any tendency to pol
Lutte it, so that to cut their stalks fire.
quently would be of little avail. The
hard, brittle wood has no power OF alb
sorption; but If when putting such
| flowers in vase or bowl you make sure
| that the lowest leaves attached to the
| blossoms are under water the effect is
| magical.
The tender green of the fresh leaf alb
| serbs the water and acts as conductor
in its turn nourishing the blossoms
Ferns, and especially maidenhair, arr
very short lived when they have to lool
to the stem alone for nourishment, ant
the most efrectual way to preserve then
is to see that the lower part of every
frond is we'll under water. Cut flowers
require as rule far greater quantit,
of water than is given them, though TIT
capacious bowls and vases now IL
| vogue come much nearer meeting thel
wants than the slender, elegant forms
/ ~ 40, hi ct a M
mantels.
We must be guided in our expecta
| lions of the longevity of a flower, how
! ever, by it's normal life, and not expec
the frail blossom OF day to rival tn
splendid orchid in it's three weeks
duration.
Flowers should always be placed il
water as soon as possible after being
picked; when received by post in
somewhat wilted condition an immedi
ate plunge into hot water with littl
sal volatile will accomplish wonder
in the way ofreviving them.
Lilac, laburnum and azaleas requir
to have piece of the bark stripped u
and left hanging, and this, with the ad
dition of few leaves in the water, viii
often keep them in quite fresh condi
ton for weeks.
The bouquet which you have CARRIE
during an evening will be sure to reviv
again if you spray it well with waite
and put it under bell glass and if yor
wish to wear flowers in your hair or o.
your corsage they may be made to re
tain their freshness for an entire even
ing by putting bit of sealing wax owe
the ends.-Chicago Tribune.