June, 1919 
Slower (Brower 
61 
The Science of Flower-Gathering. 
By WILLARD N. CLUTE in Gardeners' Chronicle. 
M OST PEOPLE fancy that they know 
as much about gathering flowers as 
anybody else, but the results they 
| obtain often fail to justify the assumption. 
There is a great deal more to flower-gather- 
ing than is apparent in the mere picking of 
the blossoms. Much depends upon a proper 
selection of the flowers. It is best to avoid 
those that are fully spread and to select the 
newly opened blossoms or even the buds 
that are about to open. A careful selection 
will often make a difference of several days 
in the length of time a bouquet will remain 
fresh. In the case of plants like the Gladi- 
! olus and Iris, which continue to produce 
flowers when carried into the house, one 
should also select his specimens with an eye 
to the number of unopened buds in the 
' spike. 
Occasionally it may be difficult to distinguish 
fresh flowers from older ones, but they may 
generally be picked out by a slightly deeper 
color, and by parts not fully spread. The 
condition of the “essential organs”— the 
stamens and pistils — will often be of value. 
If the anthers at the top of the stamens have 
opened and shed their pollen, or if the pistils 
have begun to wither, it is usually a sign 
that the flower is on the decline, for the 
flower exists solely to ensure pollination and 
when this is accomplished it soon fades. If 
pollination is hindered or prevented, the 
life of the blossom may often be prolonged. 
In some cases, snipping out the pistils with a 
sharp pair of scissors as soon as the flower 
expands, is sufficient to accomplish this. 
There is an immense difference in the 
time that different species remain open. A 
large number open their flowers for a single 
day, or night, and some for a still shorter 
time. Many of the Rock Roses ( Helianthe - 
mum) open their flowers in the early morn- 
ing and by noon the petals are found strewing 
I the ground. The little plant know as Flow- 
er of-an-hour, a species related to our Holly- 
hocks and Mallows, has a still shorter 
period of bloom and one is inclined to 
wonder why the flower takes the trouble to 
make a handsome corolla when it falls so 
soon. Such evanescent flowers are either 
pollinated by the wind, self-pollinated or, if 
j cross-pollinated by insects, are adapted to 
the visits of many different kinds of insects. 
The flowers that remain open for longer 
periods are usually flowers that are polli- 
nated by a few large insects. Frequently, 
in order to ensure cross-pollination, the 
stamens and pistils ripen at different times 
and the flower lasts until the whole process 
is completed— often several days. The flow- 
ers of the Orchids seem to be the limit in 
this respect, some specimens remaining in 
good condition for six weeks or more if the 
right pollinating insect does not happen to 
visit them. In one great group of plants, 
I containing the Asters, Sunflowers, Rud- 
beckias and the like, what are commonly 
i called “flowers,” are really flower-clusters, 
as anybody may discover for himself if he 
will examine the centers of such flowers 
with a simple lens. In these the outer or 
ray flowers remain spread until all the cen- 
tral or disk flowers have bloomed. In gather- 
ing such flowers one should notice how far 
the zone of blossoming has progressed across 
the disk and select his plants accordingly. 
Having gathered the flowers, the more 
important question of how to keep them 
fresh comes up. In the beginning it may be 
said that the substances one is often advised 
to put in the water are without beneficial 
effects and are often worse than useless. 
Charcoal in the water in which flowers are 
standing will absorb any odors of decay that 
may be given off, but it will not prolong the 
life of the blossoms. Salt or sugar in the 
water is always harmful. If at all strong 
they set up an osmotic action that actually 
draws the water from the plants. Ammonia 
water contains considerable nitrogen but it 
is not in a form that plants can use and is 
therefore useless. Cool fresh water is still 
the best thing for cut flowers. 
To be kept at their best, flowers should 
be gathered early in the morning or late in 
the afternoon and protected from the sun’s 
rays as much as possible. Plants, like ani- 
mals, are constantly giving off moisture by 
evaporation and this process should be re- 
tarded as much as possible. Leaves evapo- 
rate rapidly and if many are left on the stems 
with the flowers they serve to decrease the 
water supply. 
It is the practice of florists who ship their 
product, to place the stems in cold water in 
a cool room for some time before shipping. 
The mere placing of the stems in water, 
however, is often not sufficient for if air gets 
into the tiny tubes in the stem through 
which the moisture travels, the flowers have 
difficulty in absorbing further. In growing 
plants, there is often considerable tension 
in the water carrying parts of the stem and 
when the stem is cut the moisture is drawn 
further up and the air follows. The remedy 
is to plunge the stems of the cut flowers 
under water and while still immersed cut 
off two or three inches. Curiously enough 
plants do not absorb readily through their 
roots ; in fact, the roots are covered with a 
waterproof epidermis. Absorption is carried 
on by means of very small structures on the 
roots called root-hairs, which are invariably 
broken off when the roots are pulled from 
the ground. All roots should therefore be 
removed when it is desired to keep the flowers 
fresh. 
In the house, cut flowers should be kept in 
a fairly cool place and away from the sun’s 
rays. The florist keeps his stock in a 
refrigerator. Much as the plants need sun- 
light for growth, the flowers are not 
benefited by being exposed to it. In some 
species, however, light is necessary to keep 
the flowers open. These species are such as 
close their blossoms at nightfall. They may 
often be kept awake and open by night by ex- 
posing them to the rays of some strong artifi- 
cial light. One may have the white water Lily 
in full flower for an evening party by gather- 
ing the buds very early in the morning and 
keeping them in the dark all day. As soon 
as exposed to the light they open as if it 
were day. 
It is scarcely necessary to point out to 
people of taste that a few flowers properly 
selected are far better than a much 
larger number. Often a single blossom in 
an appropriate vase is superior to any ar- 
rangement of a greater number. It is, how- 
ever, a common fallacy to assume that the 
larger the bouquet the more valuable it is. 
This is especially true in gathering wild- 
flowers where the disposition is to gather all 
the specimens in sight. If the rising gen- 
eration could be taught to discriminate in 
their flower picking, flowers past their prime 
would be left to ripen seeds and there would 
be less need for the efforts of the various 
societies for the protection of our native 
wildflowers. 
One of our subscribers wants to 
secure complete information as to the 
best annuals to grow for green to use 
with cut flowers. Cannot some of our 
subscribers write us quite fully on this 
subject ? 
Gladiolus — White Glory. 
[ Subject of illustration on front (over pape. J 
Originated by A. E. Kunderd, Goshen, 
Indiana. One of the Ruffled Kunderdi 
type, and described by Mr. Kunderd in 
his catalogue as of the exact size and 
type of Kunderdi Glory. Our experi- 
ence with White Glory is that it is a 
taller grower than the original Glory 
and also that the flowers are better 
spaced on the stem. 
White Glory is really a gorgeous pure 
white flower with beautiful Iris blue 
throat markings. It is not only a grand 
variety, but a good multiplier, and has 
the strong characteristics common to 
the Kunderdi strain of being a strong 
and healthy grower. 
There ought to be a greater donation 
of prizes by Gladiolus growers for the 
next show of the American Gladiolus 
Society. There is nothing that does 
so much to test out new varieties ; to 
bring the Gladiolus prominently before 
the public ; and in every way to further 
the interests of Gladiolus growers, as 
the annual flower show. Growers who 
have not already sent their specifica- 
tion of donations to Secretary A. C. 
Beal, Ithaca, N. Y., should do so at once. 
mi 
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING. 
Growers having surplus stock for sale ivill find 
this department effective in disposing of it. Five 
lines (about forty words ) $1.00 per insertion. Ad- 
ditional lines 15 cents each. 
PAST HARTFORD GLADIOLUS CO.-We are 
booking orders for 1920 delivery. What kind do 
you want and how many ? E. M. Smith, No. 65 Olm 
sted street. East Hartford, Conn. 
T ABELS— Patent, paper, trees, shrub or rose label. 
. Colors: white, green, blue and salmon. Plain or 
printed. Samples. Ohio Nursery Co.. Elyria, Ohio. 
pOLD STORAGE— The Editor of The Flower 
Grower makes a business of furnishing plans for 
cold storage plants and also contracts the equipment 
for same. We handle all kinds, big and little. 
Madison Cooper Co., Calcium. N.Y. 
A SURPLUS of Thousands of Gladiolus Bulbs. I 
- r *- grow on an extensive scale and invite corres- 
pondence from growers for their next year’s require- 
ments. Jessie E. Lundburg, Keithsburg, 111. 
X-TARDY CHRYSANTHEMUMS— Really hardy va 
AA rieties, outdoor grown acclimated plants. If you 
have been disappointed with hardy Mums, try once 
more some of my worth while varieties. List free. 
H. W. Groschner, Hardy Chrysanthemum Specialist, 
Napoleon, Ohio. 
p VERBLOOMING BUTTERFLY BUSH or Summer 
Av Lilac. A plant of this desirable free flowering 
shrub, 6 Gladioli and 8 hardy Chrysanthemums, finest 
varieties, all for $1 postpaid. A late season oppor- 
tunity. Don’t miss it. H. S. Tillotson, 5904 Ells- 
worth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
CLARK W. BROWN 
Successor to 
C, W. BROWN & SON 
Gladioli Exclusively 
ASHLAND .... MASS. 
Vaughan’s Seed Store 
Gladiolus Specialists 
100 ACRES UNDER CULTIVATION. 
ASK FOR OUR PRICE LIST. 
CHICAGO NEW YORK 
