44 CIRCULAR 2 7 8, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



calendula or pot marigold {Calendula officinalis L.), and common 

 perennial gaillardia (Gaillardia aristata Pursh.) should not be held 

 at temperatures lower than 40° F., and cannot be stored with good 

 results for more than a 3- to 6-day period. Sweet violets are usually 

 made up in bunches of 100, supported underneath by a few galax 

 leaves and wrapped with a light waxed paper, and should be stored at 

 33° to 36°. 



Columbine (Aquilegia sp.), stevia (Piqueria trinervia Cav.), babys- 

 breath (Gypsophila paniculata L.), annual larkspur, baby primrose 

 (Primula forbesii Franch.), sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus L.), true 

 forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides L.), and orange-eye butterfly- 

 bush (Buddleia davidii Franch.) all have flowers whose petals shed 

 quickly, almost regardless of temperature. They cannot be held much 

 lower than 40° F., nor for longer than 3 to 4 days, without impairing 

 the keeping quality after removal. Forced Buddleia is sold by the 

 dozen. The others mentioned are bunched in lots of 25. It is not 

 customary to wrap any of these for storage. 



Orchids and gardenias (Gardenia augusta (L.) Merrill, G. veitchi 

 Hort., and G. fortunei Hort.) are not customarily stored for long 

 periods. However, they may be kept in storage in good condition 

 for about a week at a temperature of 45° to 50° F. They keep best 

 when cut just after they have reached a salable condition. 



Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cut in full bloom may be 

 held at 33° to 40° F. for 7 to 10 days. If cut in the bud stage they 

 may be stored at 33° to 40° for 10 to 15 days. Several varieties of 

 carnations, although it is not known how many, will develop satis- 

 factorily when cut hi the bud stage, viz, when one or two petals have 

 unfolded from the bud, and will last considerably longer than if cut 

 at a more advanced stage of maturity (50) . 



Roses for nearby markets should be cut in the loose-bud stage; if 

 they are to be shipped to distant markets they should be cut in as 

 tight a condition as is permissible with the variety in question. In 

 the loose-bud stage they may be held at 35° to 40° for 1 week; if 

 stored at lower temperatures the subsequent keeping quality is often 

 impaired (49). 



Dahlias (Dahlia sp.), China-asters (C allistephus chinensis (L.) 

 Nees), sweet bouvardia (Bouvardia humholdtii Bailey), and heath 

 (Erica sp.) may be held 7 to 10 days at 40° F. They usually are 

 handled in lots of one dozen, tied, but not wrapped. 



Statice, including bigleaf and notchleaf sea-lavender (Limonium 

 latifolium (Sm.) Kuntze and L. sinuatum (L.) Mill., respectively), 

 and strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum (Yent.) Willd.) may be 

 kept at 35° to 40° F. for 3 to 6 weeks. They may be dried and will 

 retain their original color and shape; strawflowers are usually dried 

 instead of being stored to retain their freshness. 



Common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.), common white foxglove 

 (D. purpurea var. alba Bailey), and garden phlox (Phlox paniculata, 

 L.), are not usually satisfactory for storage but may be held for 

 3 or 4 days at 40° F. 



The various forced irises, especially the so-called Dutch irises, may 

 be held for 1 week at 33° F. (92). 



Cut poinsettias (Euphorbia pidcherrima Willd.) sold during the 

 Christmas season usually need not be stored for the few days between 



