FOR THE HOME BEAUTIFUL 215 



tunately do not usually keep well as cut flowers. 

 They will, however, last much longer by singeing 

 the ends of the stems in a lamp or candle flame 

 soon after they are cut. Dahlias will keep for a 

 long time if the foliage is removed and the stems 

 steeped in almost boiling water. Poinsettias 

 as cut flowers must immediately have the stems 

 plunged in water heated almost to the boiling 

 point. All flowers should be cut with a knife, and 

 not broken off, and especially with the harder 

 wooded sorts the cut should be at a slant and 

 not straight across the stem. It is better to cut 

 flowers in the early morning than at any other 

 time of day. 



