58 THE BOOK OF THE FLOWER SHOW 



Faults. Crowding, a mixture of fresh and stale 

 blooms ; malformed flowers ; spots or streaks in the 

 colouring caused by cutting and packing the flowers 

 when damp, or by an excess of water given to the plants 

 just previous to gathering. 



Hints. All orange and scarlet Sweet Peas, and some 

 with deep blue shading, are liable to " burn " or " scald " 

 during hot sunshine ; these should be lightly shaded with 

 cheese cloth or butter muslin. Put the stems in water 

 as soon as cut from the plants, and let them stand in 

 water in a cool, shady room or shed, for at least two or 

 three hours (three to six hours are better) before pack- 

 ing them. Pack the spikes in flattish bunches, and 

 enfold each bunch in one thickness of tissue paper. Pack 

 the bunches in single layers, using several sliding shelves, 

 if large quantities have to be packed in big boxes. 



The boxes in which Sweet Peas are conveyed to the 

 Flower Show should be ventilated by means of air holes 

 bored in the sides. When unpacked, the flowers should 

 " rustle " together when lightly shaken ; if they do this 

 they are in good condition. Stand the spikes in water 

 after cutting a quarter of an inch from each stem to allow 

 free absorption of moisture. 



TULIPS 



There are still a faithful few who consider the Old 

 English varieties represent the "highest" type of Tulip 

 beauty, but their ranks do not increase in any sufficient 

 measure to give cause for hope that these old favourite 

 flowers will ever become very popular. In the seven- 

 teenth century, folks traded with Tulips as with stocks 

 and shares, and money passed freely without either bulb 

 or flower being handled or seen. Enormous prices were 

 paid for a share in a bulb of a rare variety, and as the 

 intrinsic value of Tulip bulbs was far, far below the 



