THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 423 



to mend a broken chair or two, wliich ]<.Q\)t liim home several cveiiiiii^s. After 

 the work was done he stayed at home instead of S[)ending his lei.nire hours at a 

 tavern, and the money tluis saved went to buy comforts for them all. And 

 then, as the home grew attractive, the whole family loved it better than ever 

 before, and grew hapi)icr and healthier with the llowers. Thus the little plant 

 brought a moral as well as a physical lesson. — The Sanilarian. 



THE WAY TO CUT FLOWERS. 



The florists employ a pair of scissors, with which the stems are severed. But 

 a writer in the American Garden says that the flowers never should be pulled 

 off, — nor should the stems be severed with scissors, but cut off with a sharp 

 Xnife. The best time for cutting flowers is immediately after sundown, unless 

 to preserve them from a storm, which would otherwise destroy or prevent their 

 being cut in the evening. On cloudy days the time of cutting is a matter of 

 much less difference. The exj)lanation of these rules, as to the proper time for 

 cutting, is found in the state of the sap at different times of the day and night. 

 From the earliest dawn until sundown, the leaves are actively drawing upon 

 the roots, and the sap is flowing freely. After that time the leaves are nearly 

 dormant until morning. The plant is then resting, is asleep. A flower cut in the 

 sunshine will wilt at once, and if not put into water, will quickly perish, whereas, 

 if cut at sunset, it will remain fresh all night. In a cool place it will not ap- 

 pear to change for a long time, even if not put in water; yet, in a close, hot 

 room, it will fade in an hour. The usual manner is to cut all flowers with a 

 long stem. Unnatural as it may seem, the true way (for the greater part of 

 our flowers) is to remove them without a stem. Koses should be cut with a 

 long stem, — the longer the better, provided other buds are not destroyed. The 

 carnation, and all plants that bear their flowers in clusters, should be removed 

 without stems. The heliotrope should be allowed a very short stem, and the 

 verbena should only be cut as far down as the first leaf. A bit of wire or a 

 match-stick will serve for a stem if it is desired to make of these stemless flow- 

 ers a bouquet. If they are to be placed in shallow dishes, — the best way to dis- 

 play them, — the stems are of no consequence. Do not collect flowers in large 

 bundles, or tie them together, as these processes also hasten decay. 



CUTTING FLOWERS. 



Every house that has a bit of land with it ought to be ornamented at this 

 Season with beautiful flowers, for the mantel, the stand, the desk, the dining 

 table, in fact in all the nooks and corners where the eye would be relieved by 

 them. Flowers witii short stems may be arranged in plates and keep well, 

 making beautiful table ornaments, with longer stems in bouquets, — and who 

 does not like to see fresh flowers in a lady's hair or at her throat? 



In cuttinfl: flowers care should be taken not to waste buds while takinsf those 

 in full bloom. And again, they should be cut off rather than pulled off. 

 Flowers gathered at night, after sundown, will keep better than if taken in the 

 middle of the day. Old flowers should be removed from the bods, and i)lants 

 will bloom all the better by removing nearly all the flowers in full bloom every 

 other day. The more we cull the more they give, providing we pick discreetly. 



S. Q. Lent. 



