W/XV V W GA K D EXISG . 
205 
ation which equals that of flowers on festive occasions, ar rl those of our readers 
who live m the country can always avail themselves of the berries and evergreens 
of the forests and fields. 
The mountain Asii berries are also extremely effective in trimming vases and 
rooms. 
To Eevive Faded Flowers 
Hot water will frequently restore flowers to freshness, even when every petal 
is drooping. Place the stems into a cup of boiling hot water, leave them in it 
until each petal has become smoothed out, then cut off the coddled ends and put 
into milk warm water. 
Colored flowers revive sooner than those that are of snowy whiteness, as the 
latter turn yellow. A cool room is 
best adapted to keeping flowers 
fresh; they will wilt quickly in 
badly ventilated rooms, especially" 
if filled with tobacco smoke. Take 
away each flower as it fades, else it 
will decay the others. 
It is far better to gather your 
flowers for yourself and friends, 
than to let them fade upon the 
plants. 
Cui Flowers, hoio to keep them 
When gathering flowers, use a pair 
of sharp shears ; a knife is bettei , es- 
pecially for woody plants — lose^ 
camellias, spireas, deutzias, fuchsias, 
and the hke. -=- _^ 
If you wish to sever a sprav of ^-^=^ 
blossoms or leaves, hold the st^,m to i t ( i i i i i u i 
be removed in the left hand, and at the back of the stem set the knife (held m the 
right hand) and cut in a slanting direction downward. If the spray springs from 
the head of the stalk, cut it as close as possible to the shoot ne.xt below it ; if it 
be a side branch, cut it cleanly to the main stalk. Then there will be no outflow 
of the sap, no rough and withering sticks protruding their unsightly presence 
above sickly foliage and meagre blossoms ; but, on the contrary, a symmetrical 
growth of verdure and florescence. Use the same method in removing a solitary 
flower or bud. 
One great drawback to our enjoyment of cut flowers is the quickness with 
which they decay. 
The moisture furnished cut flowers should be raxn wafer, always of a mode- 
»»te temperature, about blood warmth. The water should not be changed, but 
m^PM 
