Exhibition and Table Decoration 



Preparatory to beginning to cut flowers for 

 exhibition, a number of jars or vases should be 

 filled with water and placed in a light room or 

 shed. The flowers should be cut with as long 

 stems as possible, and for this purpose a pair of 

 scissors is best, as the points get down into the 

 axil and do the work without risk of cutting the 

 main stem. Each separate variety as it is cut 

 should be put in water. 



The stage at which Sweet Peas should be cut 

 for exhibition is when they are just coming to 

 full perfection certainly not after they are full- 

 blown, and for this reason; all flowers, if cut at 

 the right stage, increase considerably in size in 

 water. 



Most flowers which come from a distance to the 

 big shows must be cut twenty-four to thirty 

 hours before the show. This is obvious when we 

 think of the distance they have to travel. With 

 few exceptions, this long period does no harm. 

 Varieties which it is advisable to cut as near the 

 hour of the show as possible, are the crimsons 

 and some deep rose-coloured sorts, also varieties 

 which have a purple shading in the flowers. The 

 latter do not improve in water, as the purple 

 goes to a cold, dark shade what we should call 

 " blae " in Scotland. 



57 



