WINDOW GARDENING. 



295 



ation which equals that of flowers on festive occasions, and those of our readers 

 who live in the country can always avail themselves of the berries and evergreens 

 of the forests and fields. 



The mountain Ash berries are also extremely effective in trimming vases and 

 rooms. 



To Revive Faded Floivers. 



Hot water will frequently restore flowers to freshness, even when every petal 

 is drooping. Place the stems into a cup of boiling hot water, leave them in it 

 until each petal has become smoothed out, then cut off" the coddled ends and put 

 into milk warm water. 



Colored flowers revive sooner than those that are of snowy whiteness, as the 

 latter turn yellow. A cool room is 

 best adapted to keeping flowers 

 fresh ; they will wilt quickly in 

 badly ventilated rooms, especially 

 if filled with tobacco smoke. Take 

 away each flower as it fades, else it 

 will decay the others. 



It is far better to gather your 

 flowers for yourself and friends, 

 than to let them fade upon the 

 plants. 



Out Flowers, hmo to keep them 



When gathering flowers, use a pair 

 of sharp shears; a knife is better, es- 

 pecially for woody plants — roses, 

 camellias, spireas, deutzias, fuchsias, 

 and the like. 



If you wish to sever a spra}'' of 



blossoms or leaves, hold the stem to Fig. 45. cross for Tabh- Decoration. 



be removed in the left hand, and at the back of the stem set the knife (held in the 

 right hand) and cut in a slanting direction downward. If the spray springs from 

 the head of the stalk, cut it as close as possible to the shoot next below it; it it 

 be a side branch, cut it cleanly to the main stalk. Then there will be no outflow 

 of the sap, no rough and withering sticks protruding their unsightly presence 

 above sickly foliage and meagre blossoms ; but, on the contrary, a symmetrical 

 growth of verdure and florescence. Use the same method in removing a solitary 

 flower or bud. 



One great drawback to our enjoyment of cut flowers is the quickness with 

 which they decay. 



The moisture furnished cut flowers should be rain water, always of a mode- 

 rate temperature, about blood warmth. The water should not be changed, but 



