A Method or Process for Preventing the Closing of Cut Flowers of. the Order Nymphæaceæ.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
A Method or Process for Preventing the Closing of Cut Flowers of.
the Order Nymphæaceæ.
I, GEORG HARSTER, of 27 Wormserstrasse, Speyer on the Rhine, in the Empire:
of Germany, Florist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what:
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The flowers of plants of the nymphæaceæ order close and open periodically
either in the day time or in the night, and this is also the same with their cut
flowers. This may however be prevented and the flowers kept open by destroying,
either partially or entirely, the activating power of the cellular texture or tissue of
the bud. On account of the exceedingly great sensitiveness of the protoplasm, (on
which the life of the cells of the plants depends), to exterior influences, various
mediums, either chemical, electrical or thermal, may cause a momentary or a lasting
suspension of the life of the plant and eventually the complete destruction of the
cellular texture or tissue.
The interior, as well as the exterior formation of the blossoms of the nymphænceæ,
is exceedingly suitable for our purpose, as the stems of these flowers are provided'
with a number of small and several large tube like channels which reach
uninterruptedly up to the corolla, torus or receptacle, and contain, in their natural
state, gas like fluids. These channels may serve, so to speak, as conduit tubes
through which liquid or gaseous mediums can be introduced into the cellular texture'
or tissue of the corolla, torus or receptacle, where they are at once absorbed owing
to the sponge like condition of the cellular texture or tissue.
By simply dipping the cut flowers into a solution containing a metallic salt the
strength of which will vary as hereinafter explained such, for example, as chrome
alum in water, the solution will in most cases pass without trouble even through the
smallest air channels or capillary tubes in the stem up to the corolla torus or
receptacle. When however the mere dipping of the flowers does not give the
desired result, the only method is to stand the cut flowers for a short time in the
solution, when a small portion of it will enter the larger air channels. This then
may be compelled to travel further along to the cellular texture or tissue of the
corolla, torus or receptacle by means of centrifugal force, by blowing into it or by
suspending the flowers in a reversed position (whereupon it becomes instantly
absorbed). It is clear that the medium does not reach the corolla, torus or
receptacle in the natural way of the sap and therefore the desired result can as well
be obtained by introducing the medium, if a liquid, directly into the cellular
texture or tissue of the corolla, torus or receptacle by means of an injector, for
which purpose the point of a syringe may be inserted at the base of the leaves or
through the stigma; the excess dose will flow through the air channels or capillary
tubes and leave at the lower extremity of the stem.
Electrical discharges have also given good results. The cut end of the stem is
brought into contact with one of the wires of a spark inductor while the points of
the leaves of the flowers are dipped into a vessel containing water which is in
electrical contact with the other wire, in such a manner as to cause the discharge
currents to pass through it.
:
:
Lastly it may be said that thermal influences produce similar effects. The
flowers are dipped into water of a temperature of about 50° centigrade, but not
above 57°. It is sufficient to dip the flowers with their stems just up to the base of
the leaves into the water, so as to heat only the corolla, torus or receptacle.
The procedure for low temperatures is similar to the foregoing and should be
conducted at somewhere near 0° centigrade. It will be seen that the range of

page_text: temperature of the heating and the cooling process is considerable and it may
therefore be found preferable to gradually cool or heat the flowers, whereby the
difference in the temperatures may be made to extend to 57° centigrade.
The process to be adopted depends mainly on the formation of the interior and
the exterior, on the colors, and on the perfume of the flowers to be treated; also on
the various classes and on the weather which existed at the time when the bud first,
developed also the time of day when the flower is cut has to be taken into
account, and especially the conditions of the prevailing temperature and of the
season.
;
The conditions enumerated have to be taken into account especially in choosing
a chemical medium for treatment and to some degree also in respect to strength of
the electrical discharge, and the degree of heating or cooling.
It is impossible to state accurately concerning the chemical process within the
impregnated flower.
It is possible even that this process is nothing more than a coagulation of the
protoplasma. In any case, the object intended is to make the protoplasma
immovable, either partially or wholly and temporarily or permanently. Therefore,
chemical agencies, high or low, temperature or electricity, passing through the
flowers, will produce the same effect.
The solution must be strong enough to cause the stem of the leaves or blossoms
to remain as firm as they were before, after having been two hours therein by way
of trial.
In certain conditions of the atmosphere, the solution must be much stronger than
at others in order to produce the like effect.
It is immaterial whether the cooling or heating be effected in the air or in
water.
In some instances it may be an advantage to use a combination of two or several,
of the before named methods or processes, either simultaneously or successively.
It has already been stated that for the chemical treatment in most cases a watery
solution of the salts of heavy metals has been found most suitable.
The main point to observe in the process is to destroy the life of the cellular
texture or tissue in the interior lower part of the corolla, torus or receptacle only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The method or process for preventing the closing of cut flowers of the order
nymphæaceæ by destroying either partially or totally the life of the cellular
texture or tissue in the interior of the corolla, torus or receptacle, substantially as
herein described.
GEORG HARSTER,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.