164 The Horticulturist" s Rule- Book. 



Preserving and Printing of Flowers and Plants, continued, 

 lifted a little, the sand falls gently through the iron net, and 

 the flowers remain in their position over the net without any 

 disturbance whatever. 



They should then be taken out carefully and kept in a dry 

 and, if possible, dark place, where no sun can reach them, 

 and afterwards they will keep very well for many years. 



Care should be taken that the flowers are cut in dry weather 

 and that, while laying in the sand, no part of a flower shall 

 touch another part, as this always spoils the color and causes 

 decay. Sand should be filled in between all the parts of the 

 flower ; therefore it is necessary to insert the double flowers 

 in an erect position, in order to fill the sand between the pet- 

 als, while most of the single flowers must be put in with the 

 stalks upwards. 



To KEEP FRESH FLOWERS. If cut-flowers are not needed 

 immediately, wet them and then wrap them in paper and 

 place in a box in a cool place. Keep as cool as possible 

 without freezing. 



The disagreeable odor which comes from flowers in vases is 

 due to the decay of the leaves and stems in the water. There- 

 fore remove all the lower leaves before putting flowers in vases. 



Flowers which have stood in a vase for a day or so can be 

 greatly refreshed if taken from the vase at night, thoroughly 

 sprinkled, wrapped, stems and blossoms and all, as closely as 

 possible in a soaked cloth, and laid aside until the morning. 

 They will be much fresher than if they had been left in their 

 vases, yet will not have bloomed out so much. Before thus 

 laying them aside, and again in the morning, a bit of each 

 stem should be cut off, as the end soon hardens. This ought 

 also to be done once or twice a day, even if the flowers are 

 kept constantly in their vases. Roses which have drooped be- 

 fore their time as, for example, when worn on the dress 

 may be wonderfully revived if the stems, after being thus cut 

 are placed for ten minutes in almost boiling water and then re- 



