Cold Water at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

Take a bucket of tepid, not cold, water into the garden and plunge the cut stems directly into it. (Cold water to a flower has the same effect as a cold Shower to a gardener: Shock!) Use a sharp Knife or scissors to cut the stems, and take more length than you think you might need to ensure plenty of stem for flower arranging. When cutting, never pull at the stem. This can bruise and damage cell walls, restricting the free movement of water. Cut flowers continue living and need all the water the stems can take in.

Soak the gammon overnight in cold water, unless mild cured when several hours will be sufficient. If sweet cured, no soaking is required. Put into a pan of fresh cold water, bring the water to the boil, lower the heat and allow the water to simmer steadily, making sure the bacon is completely covered during cooking.

Season salmon, add a little lemon juice and tie carefully in a neat 'parcel' of buttered paper. Put into cold salted water with a little lemon and oil in the water. Bring slowly to the boil, simmer gently and allow 10 minutes per Ib. Another way of cooking relatively small pieces of salmon is to bring the water to the boil as above, then remove the pan from the heat. Cover the pan tightly and leave the fish in the water until it is cold. This method is excellent if wishing to serve the fish cold, for there is no possibility of it being overcooked and dry.