f.:OMMERCIAL PRODUCTION 79 



Consequently they are dug up, separated, and 

 replanted in fresh ground. 



GATHERING WITH LONG STEMS 



The flowers are gathered when only about 

 half open for they develop quickly after they 

 reach the customer and the stems are put into 

 water. As long stemmed flowers are de- 

 manded in the markets, the stems are pulled 

 as long as possible, not cut nor broken off. 



As the flowers are gathered in the field they 

 are stood up in baskets, and carried to the 

 packing shed where the stems are placed in 

 tubs of water, to absorb moisture and freshen 

 up the flowers. Girls now pick them out, one 

 by one, tieing them in bunches of twenty-five. 

 The bunches are long, flat, and one sided, a 

 layer of two or three flowers, then an under 

 layer, and so on, every care being exercised so 

 that the flowers are not bruised or broken. 

 The bunches are then packed for shipment in 

 light, wooden boxes, — ^paper lined, to retain 

 a moist atmosphere — and sent by express to 

 various city flower markets. 



Very many varieties may be grown under 

 field culture for cut flowers, but naturally the 



