186 THE FLOWER GARDEN COMPANION. 



"Many persons have expressed a wish to be acquainted 

 with the best method of preserving cut flowers for a length 

 of time in water; this we have never seen satisfactorily ex- 

 plained, though it is a very simple question: the only method 

 we have seen adverted to, is to frequently change the water ; 

 this of itself is scarcely of any essential benefit : the only 

 method is to cut off half an inch or an inch of the stem that 

 has been in the water, according to the length of it ; this will 

 again open the pores that have become closed with glutinous 

 matter, that has exuded from the stem when first cut, and the 

 pores being stopt, very often before the stem is placed in the 

 water, frequently occasions rapid withering: by cutting the 

 bottom of the stem, the moisture immediately begins to flow 

 upwards, and the branch soon recovers its vigor : the stems 

 of flowers are also frequently kept in water until the bottom 

 begins to rot and decay ; those, if cut above that, will also 

 recover again, and when placed in fresh water will frequently 

 continue fresh for some time afterwards. Flowers bought in 

 shops and markets, are often dried at the bottom, before re- 

 stored again to the water; the bottoms of the stems of these 

 should therefore be always cut before immersed in water 

 again. Specimens of plants coming from a long distance are 

 frequently much withered when they arrive; they should 

 therefore be enclosed at the bottom with wet moss, tied round 

 them before they are packed in a box or basket; we have 

 frequently had them arrive much withered, and find the best 

 way of recovering them to cut the bottom of the stem or 

 brancli, and place their ends in about an inch of water in the 

 bottom of a large bread pan, or some such vessel, and sprinkle 

 a little water on their leaves, and they will in general be all 

 fresh in the morning : the vessel must be covered close with 

 a wooden, or other cover, that fits close, and excludes the 

 air." 



