The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-07-13

long as possible It is not always easy
to get the flowers one wants, though one
is willing and able to pay for them, and
when once obtained it is still more diff
ficuit to keep them in Il satisfactory con-
dition: To arrange them tastefuly and
effectively requires time and thought
The immediate removal Of one fading
flower will often preserve others.
Flowers should be taken from the
vases every morning, and, beginning
with the stems, refreshed by bath of
pure water-twO or three minutes being
long enough for the immersion-then tax
en- out and sprinkled lightly with the
hand. The water should be changed ev-
cry day, and the water for the sprinkling
must be fresh and pure. 1t is good
thing also to cut a bit off the stems be-.
fore putting back into the vases Also,
pick every fading leaf from the stem.
set th IS very hdn injurious to cTt flowers to
them, as it dries all the moisture and
| makes them decay quickly; the room in
which they are kept should be cool rarh-
er than warm. Gas is exceedingly in
furious to them, and bell glass placed
oyer them at night will be found great
aid in their preservation, and will be an
almost perfect protection.
Measures for the preservation of flow
ers should be taken before they reach
their destination, or are even started for
1T. There is a great difference in the
| powers OF endurance Of the different
blossoms, but the most fragile ones may
be kept in excellent condition for two
taken the freshness out of them, and
are placed at once in tepid water.
If any of them show signs of droop-
ing they should be dipped in cold water
and gently shaken. Flowers that have
travelled a long distance are speedily re-
vlyed by this treatment.
In sending flowers away, long, narrow
boxes are more desirable than round
ones, and square ones are between the
two in the ability for keeping. Boxes
of tin are the best, and the next is
wood, yet the stout pasteboard box
| often delivers its perisllable contents in
good condition. Line the box with
strong brown paper; which has been
| thoroughly wet in cold water, the lining
being oyera the top as we'll as the hot
tom and sides. The flowers must be ar
| ranged in layers, most carefully, each
layer reposing upon its own bed of fresh
green ferns made very moist. Slender
sticks should be wedged under the fern
beds to keep them in place, and when
the ferns are not available, cotton bat
ting arranged in the same way will make
good substitute.
II you can avoid it, do not pack deli
cately-scented and strong -perfumed bios
SONS together, as the latter will destroy
the dainty odors of the former Hello
trope, nasturtiums, and, above all,
roses, should be gathered at night if pos
sible, and their stems cut daily. ssIal this
way they may be kept long time.
1t is almost time for the wisteria,
that beautiful blossom that is so perish
able when picked, but which holds its
beauty for a long time on the vine. If.
FOR any reason, you wish to pick clus-
ter of these blossoms, you may take Il
lesson in their preservation from the
Japanese. The lovely flower belongs to
them and they have learned how to pre-
serve it for house decoration. 1t is a
heroic measure, but Il successful one
They burn the tip of the stem of the
beautiful, dropping flower, then immerse
it in spirits. The hydrangea may be
| treated the same way
The flowers will repay every bit of care
and attention you bestow upon them by
keeping sweet and fresh for many days.
Boston Herald.