Show TO KEEP FLOWERS FRESH will last three or four weeks if treated properly cut flowers when properly treat ed said a florist can be made to look fresh for three or four weeks every night tal e them out ot of the wa ter and thoroughly rinse the stalks un der a faucet removing with the fin gers any decomposed matter then put them to bed for the night in a basin of strong soap suds but be careful not to allow any water to touch the blossoms the soap suds supply a certain amount of nourish ment in the morning rinse the stalks un der the water again and as each blos som born la Is arranged tor for the day in the vase of fresh water snip off a tiny portion of the stalk with a pair of scissors always carefully trim away any faded part food for the day is supplied by sulphate of ammonia a few drops ot of which should be added to the water put in the vase at night put the flowers into some dark cool place say a pantry as it is not good either tor for the flowers or tor for the household that they should remain all the time in the living rooms to revive cut flowers put them into warm arm salt water to which has been added a few drops of sulphate of am monia cut flowers are constantly sent by express and through the malls 11 but seldom in such a fashion as to preserve their bloom and freshness to effect this pack them in a light wooden box lined with cotton or wad mad ding laying over this a sheet ot of Us sue paper then lay the flowers not on top of each other but in rows side by side the blossoms of each row ox the stems of their neighbors pack closely otherwise ohp the flow ers era will be displaced and injured in the journey before packing they should stand in water for several hours in order to absorb moisture enough to keep them rom withering it is not good to sprinkle them too heavily after they are in the box for without air this is likely to produce mildew st louis republic |