Longevity of Cut Flowers. 2r>l 



lead nitrate. The reservoirs, wliich were the same size, i)rovided 

 an equal pressure on each stem, and shouhl force an eciual amount 

 43f liquid through the stems into the «rraduatcd tiasks. The stems 

 bein<^ of equal diameter, they should have ai>i>r<)ximately the same 

 number of vessels,- and unless blockin*: occurred in one and not in 

 the other, the same amount of water and lead nitiate sliould pass 

 through 'n\ the same time. 



Experiment 1. — Time, one hour. 



Stem A, water only, amount collected -•'> ccs. 



Stem B, lead nitrate, amount collected 5 ccs. 



Experiment 2. — lime, 45 minutes. 



Stem A, water only, amount collected 



Stem B, lead nitrate, amount collected 



Experiment 3 (with same stem as Experiment 2). 

 3iour 15 minutes. 



Stem. A, amount collected 



Stem B, amount collected 



Experiment! 4. — Time, two hours. 



Stem A, water only, amount collected 



Stem B, lead nitrate, amount collected 



Experiment 5. — Time, three hours. 



Stem A, water only, amount collected 



Stem B, lead nitrate, amount collected 



These experiments show that the vessels are more open to the 

 passage of lead nitrate solution than Avater. The viscosity of the 

 lead nitrate solution is slightly greater than that of water, but its 

 density is greater, and the greater head balances the higher vis- 

 cosity largely. Neither factor would cause more than a 5 to 10% 

 difference in the rate of flow, whereas the differences observed 

 amount to 700 to 1000%, and this fact can only be explained by 

 presuming that some form of blocking of the vessels intervenes to 

 prevent the passage of w^ter, but this is not developed when lead 

 nitrate is passed through instead of water. This is proved by 

 microscope examination of sections of the stems which have l)een 

 used in the experiments. Stem A showed extensive blocking, 

 whereas the vessels in Stem B were (juite enq)ty and witli o])en 

 lumina. 



This method of preserving wattle blossom could be (piite easily 

 carried out in the household. A few crystals of lead nitrate to a 

 quart of water shoidd make a solution of a sufficient strength to 

 preserve the blooms without having any harmful effect. 



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