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 made with this object in view. This is why they are wide mouthed and so different from ours of compressed necks; the only means we have of holding flowers in an upright position is by tightening our vases at the neck.

The Japanese have found that having the opening completely filled by the stems makes the water become foul and also allows no oxygen to enter the stems at their ends. The placing of the flowers one by one through the support, keeping the ends of the stems always an inch or two above the bottom of the vase, allows the flowers to suck up freely all the water they require, while the ends of our flowers are usually sealed by forcing the stems tightly against the bottom of the vase. The Japanese also remove all foliage below the surface of the water. This is not only to show the stems uniting at the base to form the parent stalk, but because it adds greatly to the life of flowers so arranged, since there are no leaves in the water to cause decomposition, which is so injurious to plant life. [208]