FOR THE WOMAN GARDENER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1939, Page 8

FOR THE WOMAN GARDENER

CARE OF CUT FLOWERS. SOME USEFUL HINTS. Most women, even if they do no care to work in the garden, like to ar range flowers in the home, for that is a task that gives them a chance to ex press their individuality. Many, however, do not study the art of preserving flowers as long as possible when they are cut, and are surprised when their lovely blooms wilt almost as soon as they are gathered. Flowers, in almost every instance, should be picked as early in the morning as possible, especially in the sum • mer months. One exception is the nasturtium, which should not be picked till after sunset. When cutting flowers use a sharp knife rather than scisspi’s, for scissors tend to* close up the stems, thereby hindering them from absorbing water. Cut hardwood stems on the slant, as it gives a larger surface for taking in water. If hard stems are also bruised or split this will help to prolong their life. : Such flowers as cyclamens, daffodils, hyacinths, lily of the valley, violets, etc, should be pulled by hand the full length of the stalk. All flowers should be put into water as soon as they are picked, and if they are not being arranged at once they should be put into a large bucket of water, preferably with the chill off (especially in winter), right up to their necks. Daffodils should be picked when the flowers are young. and allowed to mature in water. Both daffodils and narcissi should stand in water for an hour or two, and then have a portion of the stem cut off before being arranged in the vases. This takes away the mucus which soon pollutes the water if left in the stems.

’ Luke-warm Water. Long-stemmed tulips which are inclined to droop should be immersed in t luke-warm water the length of the . stem for a while. When arranging, the flowers should have the foliage stripped off up to the ; point of immersion, especially such flowers as stocks, wallflowers, etc, which pollute the water quickly and give it a nasty odour. Some flowers are bad mixers and poison others. A few examples are forget-me-not, mignonette, poppy, and stock. If any of these have to be mixed with other flowers, use them sparingly, and renew the water frequently, washing the stems of the flowers in warm water. Poinsettias, iris, and poppies should have the ends of the stems burnt as soon as cut, and hydrangeas should have several inches of stem scraped, then burnt at the ends. People with sensitive skins should wear gloves when picking and handling daffodils or prirpulas. The juice of the daffodils, and the hairy leaves and stalks of the primulas often set up severe skin irritation. Flowers will not last long if placed on a mantleshelf when a fire is burning, or in a window which has the sun’s rays directly on it. A severe draught is equally injurious to them. If they are kept in warm rooms during the day, remove them at night to a cool place. Some flowers soon give the water they are placed in an unpleasant smell. The water can be kept sweet by adding a little charcoal to it. The water in the vases should be changed every day, and if the flower stems are slimy they should be rinsed well under the tap before being put back into the vases, and a small piece should be cut off the end, especially of woody stems.

The Choice of Vases. Narrow-necked vases, besides being difficult to clean, very often hold too little water, and are therefore unsuitable, except, perhaps, for a single specimen, flower.. A wide-mouthed vase or bowl with a good firm base is ideal whether tall or short. If tall, the flowers are easily arranged without- any “aid” such as a perforated glass holder. Crumpled wire-netting makes ■ a splendid “aid,” as the stems are easily arranged in it, and it keeps them ( upright. Simple earthenware vases look better than elaborate ones of cut glass or silver, and glass vases should never be used for flowers that have ugly stems.