34 CIRCULAR 2 7 8, U.S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



for storage when the corolla is about one half opened, or just before 

 the tips begin to reflex. Lilies forced at relatively high temperatures 

 should be kept at a temperature of about 50° for a preliminary period 

 of about 24 hours before being put at 35°. Peonies showing color in 

 the tight bud may be stored at 35° for a month or more, but they 

 seldom give satisfaction for decorative purposes without special 

 handling; in the loose-bud stage they may be held satisfactorily for 

 10 days. 



The cut blooms of callas {Zantedesohia aethiopica and Z. elliotti- 

 ana) may be stored when fresh for as long as 10 days at 40° 

 F., and will be in good condition upon removal. Calla blooms should 

 be gathered just before the spathe shows signs of curling downward. 

 Callas that have been subjected to hard forcing should be held for 

 about 24 hours at a temperature of 50° previous to storage at 40°. 

 When the blooms are gathered they should be pulled, not cut, other- 

 wise the stems will split at the cut ends and curl after a few days in 

 storage. The pulling method separates the stem from the rhizome 

 leaving no useless appendage. Although the blooms are sometimes 

 removed from the plant by cutting, the stub left on the plant will 

 probably rot and thus may serve as a place of entrance for disease 

 organisms. Pulling, however, is much easier with potted callas than 

 with those planted in beds or benches. Callas intended for storage 

 should be tied at the bottom and also loosely tied below the blooms. 

 They are usually put up in lots of 1 dozen. The container should 

 be about 2 feet high so that the stems will stand deep in water. 



Lupine (Lupinus) , clarkia (Olarkia sp.) , common stocks (Matthiola 

 incana), candytuft (iheris), delphinium, hardy or perennial lark- 

 spur (Z). formosum and hybrids), cornflower {Centaurea cyanus), 

 feverfew {Chrysanthemum parthenium) , common snapdragon 

 {Antirrhinum majus), blue laceflower {Trachymene caerulea), 

 English daisy {Bellis perennis), calendula or pot-marigold {Ca- 

 lendula officinalis), common perennial gaillardia {Gaillardia aris- 

 iata), and sweet violets {Viola odorata) should not be held at tem- 

 peratures lower than 40° F., and cannot be stored with good re- 

 sults for more than a 3- to 6-day period. Violets are usually made 

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

 and wrapped with a light waxed paper. 



Columbine {Aquilegia sp.), stevia {Piqueria trinervia), babys- 

 breath {Gypsophila paniculata) , delphinium, annual larkspur, baby 

 primrose {Primula forhesi), sweet pea {Lathyrus odoratus), true 

 forget-me-not {Myosotis scorpioides) , and orange-eye butterflybush 

 {Buddleia davidi) , 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. None of these is wrapped 

 for storage. 



Orchids and gardenias {Gardenia florida, G. veitchi, and G. for- 

 tunei) 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. 



