PREPARING PRODUCE FOR SALE 73 



cellent forms of gum are also prepared by dealers in 

 florists' sundries, and can be obtained cheaply when 

 the trouble of home manufacture is not desired. 



The wiring which is now so general in floral work 

 is usually left to the retail florist, and would not require 

 attention in a market business unless a retail trade is 

 also conducted. 



Flowers are cut with long stems wherever practicable, 

 that is in every case where this can be done without 

 taking an undue portion of the producing plant, but it is 

 advisable to avoid cutting into hard growth if possible, 

 though with forced shrubs and other woody plants that 

 cannot be helped. Where the flowers are borne in 

 clusters, but are mostly employed singly in floral arrange- 

 ment, as with Stephanotis and Tuberoses for example, 

 long stems are not required, because the flowers are 

 wired individually after removal from the cluster. If 

 cut with fresh soft growth only attached, the majority of 

 flowers absorb water more readily through their stems, 

 and in consequence retain their freshness better or can 

 be more quickly revived. 



