FLOWER ARRANGEMENT   359
PLANT MATERIALS
Plant materials vary greatly in the length of time they remain
presentable in an arrangement. Flowers are the most perishable;
foliage, berries, weeds, fruits, and vegetables may last from a week
to a month; dried materials usually look well for a season.
FLOWERS
Preparation and Care of Flowers. Flowers are the most
charming as well as the most fragile of plant materials. They can,
however, be hardened by proper cutting and handling. The best
results are usually obtained by cutting flowers in the evening or
early in the morning, and putting them immediately in a pail of
water which has been carried into the garden. Leaves, buds, and
half-open and full-bloom blossoms should usually be gathered.
Stems should be cut with a very sharp knife, at an angle so that
stem ends will not rest flat. Foliage should be stripped off the
lower part of the stems, because it fouls the water.
Bubbles of air entering the cut stems block the intake of water.
Therefore, ends of stems of land plants should be burned, and ends
of stems of water plants should be held in boiling water for one
minute. Most flower stems should be cut while under water.
Woody stems should be slit to allow water to enter. Certain
flowers require special treatment, however. Lily stem ends should
be burned and dipped in melted paraffin, hydrangea and poinsettia
stem ends should be burned to charcoal, and wisteria ends should
be dipped in alcohol. A hole should be pricked in the stem of
the calla lily above the water line. Poppies, water lilies, iris,
roses, peonies, and morning glories should be cut in the bud stage.
Heliotrope, hollyhock, poppy, and dahlia stem ends should be
put in boiling water. Some solid wood stem must be cut with
clematis. Chrysanthemum stems should be broken under water.
After flowers have been cut, they should stand for at least three
hours in a dark, cool, drafdess place in deep water up to the base
of the blossoms to fortify themselves with water. It is well to
place flower arrangements in a cool place at night, in deep water if
they are in very shallow water in daytime. In order to lengthen
the life of cut flowers, stems should be trimmed daily while Tender
water. The water should be changed every day.