The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-09
RULES FOR KEEPING
FLOWERS GIVEN TO
AID LOCAL EXHIBIT
Treatment of Stems and Time
Of Cutting Are Declared
Important
BY MRS. F. C. STUCKE

With the time approaching for the
fall flower show, sponsored by the
Bismarck Garden club, members OF
the club agree that 1t would be of in
terest to the community, particularly
to those planning to exhibit, and a
benefit to the show as well, If definite
information were offered in regard
to preparing flowers for showing.
A flower faces no harder test than
to look it's very best for the duration
of a flower show. We cannot hope
to have our garden beauties keep
their petals fresh, their stems straight,
and their heads up unless we give
them our most intelligent care and
properly prepare them for this or
deal.
Let us give time and thought to the
important points of flower care and
reap the reward in ribbons that will
surely be ours if we follow these few
simple rules.
Most of the information in this ar
ticle is taken from the booklet, "The
Use of Cut Flowers" by Alex Laurie
we'll known authority on garden sub
jects, who is affiliated with the hor-
ticultural department of Michigan
! state college.
The whiting of flowers is due to
their inability to maintain suffi-
cient supply of water through the
stems to keep pace with the evapora-
ton through the foliage and flowers
lat ordinary temperatures bacteria
multiply rapidly in the water, attacS
the tissues of the stems, clog the con-
Quoting vessels and prevent free as
cent of the moisture to the flowers
and foliage above.
Ways to Keep Flowers
Various means have been tried Il
counteract this action of bacteria. Or
binary precautions include the follow.
ing suggestions:
| % Cut flowers early in the morn.
ing or late in the evening, when thu
stems are turgid. Early morning
means between and 6 a. m. ane
evening between and 10 p. m.
i ca Use a sharp knife in preference
to shears, the sharper the cut the les
the bruising of the conducting yes
sells and the greater the absorption O
water. In addition, the lack OF ragged
edges may lessen the chance of bacter
ial action.
60 Plunge the stems deeply in wa
ter up to the base of the flower. AL
arranging should be postponed unit
after the stems have been thoroughly
soaked.
a. The proper stage of develop
ment in the flower should be selected
Gladioli are best for cutting when tn
first floret is open; peonies, when tn
first petals are unfolding; roses, be
. fore the buds open: dahlias whel
fully open; poppies, the night befor
|! they open. !.
90 Keep the flowers in q humi
: room, where it is cool and dark, un
: til ready to bring to the show.
: co Use containers which PERM
free entrance of air through the tol
Cd All leaves which are submere
Q ed should be removed to prevent the
I decomposition and the fouling OF tn
= water. This is particularly importar
with many flowers such as aster
dahlias and zinnias.
Y co Slit the stems of woody PLAN
O and peel the bark back for a distant
2 Of one inch at least. Chrysanthen
unS, lilacs, roses, cosmos and the III
are benefited by this treatment.
! 90 Poinsettias, peoples, heliotrop
r dahlias and mignonette will last niue
| longer If o hot water treatment is al
piled. immense four inches of tt
stems in boiling water for one minu
and then plunge in cold water. Tn
should be done as soon as cut. PLUM
ing the stem in boiling parafin,