242 Tall Bearded Iris 



washing they should be allowed to dry in the shade 

 to their normally moist condition. Each plant should 

 be surrounded with a little dry moss or fine excelsior 

 for absorption of any excessive moisture and then 

 should be loosely wrapped in paper so that if any 

 decay ensues the trouble will be less likely to be com- 

 municated to others, but the ends of the wrapper 

 should not be made air-tight or the plants will be 

 more likely to heat. They can then be placed in boxes 

 having some ventilation, or wrapped in coarse burlap 

 or, preferably, matting. (See under Roots, page 120.) 



FLOWERS.— In the May number, 1921, of "The 

 Flower Grower" Mr. R. S. Sturtevant makes the 

 following suggestions in relation to cutting, handling, 

 transporting and exhibiting blooms, based on exper- 

 ience in shows in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington 

 and other places. 



"Cut late the afternoon before the show, and keep 

 in water in a cool dark place until you are ready to 

 pack. For short distances, that is not over twenty 

 miles, or not more than one hour in time, and for 

 transportation by automobile, the stalks may be stood 

 upright in a pail of water, with a packing of crumpled 

 paper to keep the expanded flowers from touching 

 each other; and a protection from wind should be 

 provided. For longer distances stalks may be packed 

 in ordinary flower boxes and the best ones selected 

 at the show. It is better to pack them in tissue paper 

 in shallow trays, but neither boxes nor trays permit 

 the carrying of full-blown flowers, and any opening 

 buds should be tied with soft wool. 



