The sun., 1919-04-13
CUT FLOWERS.
BY MARTHA MCCULLOUGH WILL
IAMS.

If ever 7 bear rule over the good
green world, people who mishandle
flowers either through avarice, ig-
be denied the joys of them until they
learn to respect their rights. Flowers
have rights, especially cut flowers; the
chiefiest OF them is care in cutting
and carrying. Regard for them would
Danish the tragedies of suburban
traffic to be witnessed any day be-
twixt mid-May and October. No less
the violent despoiling OF the country
side by motorists, who, It appears, can
see nothing a-blow without an impulse
to twitch and snatch Off the blossoms,
only to fling them away a few miles
further on.
Once upon a midsummer time, hot
hand sitting. there came into a way
station a girl, tall and twenty, well
clad doubtless we'll bred, good to look
at throughout, save for what she
carried. A fiat wicker basket, shallow
and heaped with what had been the
loveliest spoil OF midsummer garden,
Canterbury bells blue, white and pink.
pale sweet pinks, tall spikes Of lark
spur and of foX-glove, velvety sweet
williams and delicate yellow roses
They had been heavenly fragrant, but
lying uncovered. unwatered, in full
blazing sunshine, had become a limp
wifted mass. already family Ill odored.
When the train reached the city moth
ing of beauty remained. The young
woman glanced at 1t almost spitefully.
saying as she tossed it away: TT was
so foolish to load myself with those
| things"
She spoke truth, yet a little love
and knowledge might have kept her
burden a Joy. Evidently she had been
| spending a week end; IL she had
chosen her flowers with Judgment and
discretion, taking only as many as she
could care for. she would not have
had her trouble for her pains. Flowers
for carrying need to be cut very early
while dewy II possible. certainly be-
fore they are warmed by the sun.
Use a sharp knife rather than scissors,
make clean cuts slant!ng upward, and
try always TO visualize the later uses
of the flowers. Do not cut greedily.
and have regard to the later symmetry
Of the parent plant or shrub. Take
only the things that harmonic, and
again only SO much of them as will
serve your needs. Be sure to take
| plenty of independent greenery. to
have a gather basket set in shade
with a damp paper spread in II, a
thicker one. also damp, to spread over
It. Lay the flowers in loose handfuls,
never crowding them while you hold
| them. Keep them we'll under the
paper, and as soon as the gathering
ends set the flowers upright in YES
sells OF clean tepid water, sticking a
light rod in each vessel then spread
ing over the whole array clean damp
cloth. The rods will prevent II from
bending or crushing the flowers
which, standing thus for an hour or
a forenoon, will come to packing as
fresh as when plucked. In very hot
weather spray the flowers lightly be-
fore covering them, and set them in
fresh air but away from draughts.
For packing use box IL you can
get 1t. Failing to get it lay the flow
ers compactly but lightly in a bic
sheet of paper. fold over the ends
neatly, pin the folds together. then
tie around the middle with thick soft
string. A running tie around middle
and ends is almost sure to break the
paper and let out the moist air that
means salvation to what is inside.
Lay short stalked, stumy flower.
In double rows, cut ends inside, with
thick, wet paper over the cut ends
then make a neat folded parcel ant
tie 1t firmly but rater loosely. II
box packing put green stuff wet al
over at the bottom; lay upon It thing.
with woody stalks. such as roses, syr,
inga, lilac, but let honeysuckle spray,
walt; they can be tucked neatly into
creyices at the top OF all. Very
choice blossoms should be wrapped
separately, rather thickiy, with cr!sI
tissue paper, and have tissue paper
very we'll damped. wisped tight,