Improved Means for Keeping the Stems of Flowers and Bouquets in a Moist Condition.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Keeping the Stems of Flowers and Bouquets in
a Moist Condition.
I, WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD of 19 Bowling Green Street Leicester,
in the County of Leicester Patent Agent being a communication from abroad by
Anton Zehnpfenning of Muenster Westphalia, in the Empire of Germany, Florist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved means for keeping the stems of flowers or
bouquets in a moist condition, and the object of my improvement is to provide a
reliable supply of moisture to the stalks of the flowers, when keeping them, or
bouquets in vases or glasses. It is known that bouquets to be sold in shops are
manufactured by attaching the flowers, having generally short stalks, to binding
wires and by binding or twisting these binding-wires so that the flowers thereon
will form a bouquet or nosegay. But the flowers of bouquets manufactured in this
way will fade or wither away very soon without difference whether they be put in
water or not. The gardener, however, is obliged to this mode of artificial binding
because he would ruin his plants if he cut off the flowers with long stalks. The
above mentioned disadvantage may now be removed by the following arrangement.
For the said purpose I wrap the binding wire with a porous and hygroscopic
material and then attach the binding wire together with the porous material fixed
thereon to the short stalk of the flower in the usual manner. When attaching the
binding-wire to the stalk attention may be given that the last coils of the binding
wire at the free end of the stalk are arranged in such a manner that they may touch
each other and the end surface of the stalk may abut upon one of these coils or the
straight part of the binding wire. When putting a bouquet made in accordance
with my invention into water, the porous and hygroscopic wrappers or envelopes
of the stalks of the flowers will absorb a certain quantity of water and lead or
conduct the same to the single stalks, whereby is effected that the flowers of the
bouquet will remain fresh and well looking for a considerable long time. A good
result is also obtained by merely moistening or wetting the porous wrapping
material. As wrapping material for the binding wires preferably sponge may be
used. For this purpose the latter is cut into very small pieces, which are to be
fastened on suitable paper sheets in a convenient manner so that a sort of "
sponge
paper" is formed. These "sponge paper sheets" are cut into small strips which
are wrapped round the binding-wires and held in the desired position thereon by
binding or turning round the ends of the said wires in a suitable manner.
Dated this 13th day of August 1892.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Keeping the Stems of Flowers and Bouquets in
a Moist Condition.
I, WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD, of No. 19 Bowling Green Street, Leicester,
in the County of Leicester, Patent Agent having received a communication from
abroad by Anton Zehnpfenning of Münster (Westphalia) 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved means for keeping the stems of flowers and

page_text: bouquets in a moist condition and the object of my improvement is to provide a reliable
supply of moisture to the stalks of the flowers or bouquets when keeping them, in
vases or glasses. It is known that bouquets to be sold in shops are manufactured by
attaching the flowers, having generally short stalks, to binding wires and by binding
or twisting these binding-wires so that the flowers thereon will form a bouquet or
nosegay. But the flowers of bouquets manufactured in this way will fade or wither
away very soon without difference whether they may be put in water or not. The
gardener, however is obliged to this mode of artificial binding because he would
ruin his plants if he cut off the flowers with long stalks. The above mentioned
disadvantage can now be removed by the following arrangement. Illustrated in
the sheet of drawings annexed.
*
For the said purpose I wrap the binding wire A with a porous and hygroscopic
material such as threads of cotton B, free of grease, which is qualified for sucking
up water, see Figure 1," and then attach the binding wire together with the
porous material fixed thereon to the short stalk of the flower which is veiled with
a wadding of cotton wool free of grease C, thereupon moistened and bound to the
said wire, in consequence of which the first comes in contact with the substance
sucking up water "Figure 2." When flowers have been united to a bouquet in
this manner, and the latter is placed into water, the porous and hygroscopic
wrappers or envelopes of the stalks of the flowers will absorb a certain quantity
of water and lead or conduct the same to the single stalks, the effect of which is
that the flowers in the bouquet will remain fresh and well looking for a considerable
time. A good result is also obtained by merely moistening or wetting the porous
wrapping material. The said wrapping material for the binding wires may consist
of sponge, cut into very small pieces, fastened on suitable paper sheets in a con-
venient manner so that a sort of "sponge paper" is formed. These "sponge-paper-
sheets are cut into small strips, which are wrapped around the binding-wires and
held in the desired position thereon by bending or turning round the ends of the
said wires in a suitable manner.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
An improved binding wire for flowers and bouquets enveloped by porous substance
qualified for leading water continually to the veiled stalk of the flower or flowers of
a bouquet. Substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1893.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, England.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, England.