* * * * TONICS FOR FLOWERS.
Some flower-lovers of my acquaintance have been further testing the effect of certain drugs upon cut blossoms ; and the results have surpassed their most sanguine anticipationi. In the very first of the experiments they found that the gardener had left a handful of daffodils lying on the lawn. The flowers looked as good as dead. They were put in water and quite failed to respond. Then half an aspirin tablet was crumbled into the water ; and soon the moribund stalks took up the fluid, and flowers as well as stems returned to life. Several other experiments gave similar results ; and, indeed, the experience is now common, though it was new to me that flowers quite so far gone as those daffodils could be restored to life. Such chemical resurrections are worth perhaps more serious attention than they have received from men of science. A polyanthus rose in my garden always comes into bud, but never opens into flower. A doctor tells me that it needs a dose of strychnine ; and maybe there is often wisdom in the jest.
Previous page
