A Note From “The Hoe.”

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 91, 11 January 1935, Page 6

A Note From “The Hoe.”

Preserving Delphiniums few people know that there is a very simple way of preserving the lovely spikes of the delphiniums, so ensuring some handsome blossoms for winter decoration. The spikes should be cut when about a third of the flowers on the stalk have expanded and with as long a stalk as possible. Then into jars put water to the depth of about two inches, and. after trimming the ends of the stalks of the delphiniums neatly, place them in the jars. Keep in the coolest room in the house and do not allow any direct sunshine to fall on the spikes. The flowers will go on opening until nearly all have expanded. No further water should be added and, by the time most of the blooms are open, the jars will be dry. Leave the delphiniums just as they are for a week or so and, at the end of that time, each spike will have dried right up. It is curious that, in this drying process, the blossoms do not undergo- any change either in form or colour, and at the end of the time the blooms are perfectly preserved and will then last indefinitely. The only thing to bear in mind is that the delphiniums must not be allowed to remain in bright sunshine for any length of time or the blue colour will begin to fade badly. On the mantelshelf In an average room, however, they will keep in full beauty for a good many weeks.