The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-07
RULES FOR KEEPING
FLOWERS GIVEN TO
! AID LOCAL EXHIBIT
Treatment Of Stems and Time
OF Cutting Are Listed az
important Factors

Information for the benefit Of ex-
hibitors Of blooms in the Bismarck
Garden clubs show Thursday and
Friday at the World War Memorial
building has been prepared for pub
ucation by the show directors.
Mrs. +. G. Stucke, who has been
prominent among those directing the
annual exhibits, has compiled the d.
rections for keeping flowers fresh.
Much Of the information given below
IS taken from 4 booklet, "The Use Of
Cut Flowers" by Alex Laurie, q we'll
known authority on garden subjects.
Mrs. Stucke explains that the wilt
Ing Of flowers Is due to their inability
to maintain q sufficient supply Of
water through the stems to keep pace
With the evaporation through the fol.
iage and flowers. At ordinary tenn
peratures bacteria multiply rapidly in
the water, attack the tissues Of the
stems, clog the conducting vessels and
prevent free ascent Of the moisture
to the flowers and foliage above.
Ways to Keep Flowers
Various means have been tried to
counteract this action Of bacteria. Or
binary precautions include the fol-
lowing suggestions:
ID Cut flowers early in the morn
ing or late In the evening, when the
stems are turgid. Early morning
means between and 6 q. m, and
evening between 8 and 10 D. m,
"a Use = sharp knife In prefer
ence to shears, the sharper the cut
the less the bruising Of the conducting
vessels and the greater the absorption
Of water. In addition, the lack Of
ragged edges may lessen the chance Of
bacterial action.
90 Plunge the stems deeply in wa
ter up to the base Of the flower. All
arranging should be postponed until
after the stems have been thoroughly
soaked.
~ The proper stage Of develop
ment in the flower should be selected.
Gladioi are best for cutting when the
first floret Is open; peonies, when the
first petals are unfolding; roses, be-
fore the buds open; dahlias when
tully open; peoples, the night before
they open.
(0 Keep the flowers in q humid
room, where it Is cool and dark, UNI
til ready to bring to the show.
90 Use containers which permit
tree entrance Of air through the top.
% AL leaves which are submerg-
ed should be removed to prevent their
decomposition and the fouling of the
water. This Is particularly important
with many flowers such as asters,
dahlias and zinnias.
90 Slit the stems Of woody plants
and peel the bark back for q distance
Of one inch at least. Chrysanthem-
ums, lilacs, roses, cosmos and the like
are benefited by this treatment.
90 Poinsettias. peoples, heliotrope.
dahlias and mignonette will last much
longer II hot water treatment is ap-
piled. 1mmerse four inches Of the
stems In boiling water for one minute
and then plunge In cold water. This
should be done as soon as cut. Plung-
ing the stem In boiling parrafin, or
soaring 1t In q candle flame also are
good. Precaution must be taken to
keep the steam from the flowers or
they will turn brown.
Special Treatments
Some flowers require special treat
ments to make them keep. Carnations
and snap dragons keep best out of
the refrigerator. Carnations will alb
sorb four times their weight Of water
in preparing them for exhibit. Wa
ter lilies may be kept from closing
by pouring q few drops Of warm par
ATTN into the heart Of the flower,
while q few drops Of liquid gelatin
dropped into the heart Of poppy will
prolong its life several days
Use Of chemicals whose disinfect-
ing properties aid In increasing the
life Of . flower Is common. Among
these are charcoal, salt. formaldehyde.
ammonia, listerine and as
pirin. When used in very small guam
titles they aid in preventing the
growth Of detrimental bacteria.
One-tenth Of one per cent concen-
tration Of boric acid (one-half tea
spoon to two quarts Of water used
with carnations has increased the
keeping qualities by three to seven
days. One-half Of an aspirin tablet
added to two quarts Of water was
found to be helpful In prolonging the
life Of cut chrysanthemums, asters
and daalias.
The most pronounced increase In
the life Of asters was found through
the use Of one per cent cane sugar
Il teaspoon to one quart Of
water). Their Life was doubled by this
treatment.
Hollyhocks dipped in o one-tenth Of
one per cent Of nitric acid solution
keep well and dahlias have been en-
Gifted by using one-tenth Of one per
cent Of potassium nitrate.