SECOND WEEK IN JU-LY 



all should be gathered either in the evening or in the early 

 morning (before the sun has much power), then placed in 

 water for at least half an hour before they are packed. A 

 strong cardboard-box, with metal corners, is the most con- 

 venient for the post, and it should not be more than 

 4 inches deep, and long enough to take the stems of the 

 flowers without bending them. Line the box with rather 

 thin paper, and on this strew a layer of long, fresh grass, or 

 clean, moist moss. Then pack in the flowers as thickly as 

 possible (so that there is no room for them to stir), laying 

 them in separately in the case of roses, or large blooms, and 

 filling up all the corners thoroughly. Another layer of 

 grass should cover them, and paper can be laid over that. 

 Where long grass cannot be obtained, a sheet of blotting- 

 paper, well moistened, will be useful both under and over 

 the flowers in hot weather. But a knowledge of the exact 

 times of trains and posts should also be obtained in the 

 country where these are not plentiful, for it is a great 

 mistake to give flowers a long journey in the heat of the 

 day, if they are to arrive in a thoroughly fresh state. 



Sweet peas, carnations, pinks, gladioli, lilies-of-the-valley, 

 double pelargoniums, pyrethrums, violets, and all the flowers 

 of daisy shape are amongst the best of travellers. Roses 

 should be cut when half-open, and many flowers (such as 

 azaleas, salvias, &c.) can scarcely be sent safely, even well 

 packed, as they drop their blossoms so easily. But a few 

 fresh flowers are such a pleasure to an invalid that all who 

 have plenty should not forget to remember those who are 

 not so fortunate. 



Generosity with regard to cutting one's flowers brings its 

 own reward, for the plants will produce many more blossoms 

 if relieved of a part of their first bloom than when these are 

 left uncut ; this being specially true of roses, sweet peas, 

 and many other flowers, and if we desire to have plenty of 

 blossoms in the autumn we shall cut them constantly now. 



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