THE FLOWER ART OF JAPAN 



To PRESERVE LOTUS 



This flower is very difficult and must 

 be treated immediately after picking, or 

 it cannot be preserved. In gathering the 

 flowers and leaves they must be cut under- 

 neath the surface of the water. While 

 arranging, the stems must be held all the 

 time in water. When the proper length 

 of the stems has been determined, the 

 blossoms and leaves are protected by paper 

 and the ends of the stems are put in boil- 

 ing water until they become white; after 

 this they are plunged into cold water where 

 they are left until the entire length of 

 stems are cold. Next the kosho misu, or 

 summer medicine, the formula of which is 

 given below, is inserted by a pump into the 

 stem of each leaf or flower separately, the 

 flowers then being placed in cold water for 

 three hours before the arrangement may be 

 completed. 



A much simpler way of preserving lotus 

 is to cut the stems underneath the water, 



