18G horticulturist's rule-book. 



chloride of lime in a large pitcher, and add same quantity of 

 cold water. Stir well and cover closely to prevent the escape 

 of the chlorine. When the soda-water is cool, pour it on the 

 chloride of lime, stir well together and cover tightly, leaving it 

 for an hour or more. Then pour off very gently the clear 

 liquid, which must be bottled tightly. 



This solution will remove fruit-stains from white goods, and 

 will bleach any vegetable substances. When used for cotton or 

 linen, it must be considerably diluted, and the goods well rinsed 

 afterwards. 



Waterproof Paper for Artificial Flowers. — Water- 

 proof paper, transparent and impervious to grease, is obtained 

 by soaking good paper in an aqueous solution of shellac and 

 borax. It resembles parchment paper in some respects. If 

 the aqueous solution be colored with aniline colors, very hand- 

 some paper, of use for artificial flowers, is prepared. 



To Keep Flowers Fresh. — If cut flowers are not needed 

 immediately, wet them and then wrap them in paper and place 

 in a tight 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 



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

 greatly refreshed if taken from the vase at night, thoroughly 

 sprinkled and wrapped, stems, 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 con- 

 stantly in their vases. Roses which have drooped before their 

 time — as, for example, when worn on the dress — may be 

 revived if the stems, after being thus cut, are placed for ten 

 minutes in almost boilins water and then removed to cold water. 



