ZEPHYR St. C. (Wind) Certificate of Merit 
at East Lansing with a score of 85.8 C. 
The general color effect is a rich cardi- 
nal red. The nicely formed flowers 
average five to six inches in diameter. 
Substance rated as excellent. Stems are 
of medium length. Very abundant 
flowering habits. The bushes are free 
branching with a height of four feet 
and a spread of four feet. The branches 
are slender to the base, but are rigid 
and erect, permitting cutting with long 
stems. The foliage is dark green. Plants 
do well in the open field with a mini- 
mum of care. We have found this to 
be the answer to a demand for a dark 
red cactus. 

Plant .75 ZEPHYR 
How To Handle Cut Flowers So They Will Keep 
The life of dahlia blooms after they are cut may be very much prolonged by a few 
simple precautions taken at the time of cutting. 
First of all, cut only FULLY MATURED blooms. Flowers with a withered petal or 
two on the back will keep longer, under similar conditions, than young blooms. If 
desired, the withered petals may be picked, or cut off. Cut a longer stem than will be 
necessary in the vase or container, for which the flowers are wanted. 
Cut the flowers early in the morning before they start to wilt, or in the evening 
after they have revived from the effects of the sun and winds of the day. Make the 
cut with a sharp knife so that the microscopic tubes in the stem, which supply water 
to the flower head, are not crushed. 
Flowers should be cut at least eight hours before it is planned to use them. As soon 
after cutting as possible, the stems should be placed in deep cool water in a cool, 
draughtless and dark part of the basement. When putting the flowers in water in the 
basement, it is to considerable advantage, to trim off an inch or two of the stem under 
water. This cuts off the portion of the stem into which air may have entered the micro- 
scopic tubes and choked off the supply of water passing up to the flower head. When 
the supply of water fails, of course the flowers wilt. 
After the period of “hardening” or "'finishing’’ in the basement, the flowers may be 
used for their intended purpose. In placing them in their permanent containers it is well 
to again trim off a small portion of the stem under water. In fact, this should be done 
each time the stem is out of water for more than a moment. Use only CLEAN water and 
CLEAN containers; factors which are important but often overlooked. Thereafter change 
the water once a day and trim off the stems. Set the containers out of direct sunlight 
and draughts. Follow the foregoing suggestions and you will find the dahlia a long- 
lasting flower. 
