OF HORTICULTURE. 3 
AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
Packing—continued. Packing—continued. 
near the outside. Plants packed in matted baskets are 
usually stood upright, string being tied in both directions 
across the top, to keep each pot in its proper position. 
Living plants are usually sent to, and received from, 
foreign countries, in Wardian cases. Packing is here, 
again, an important part of the undertaking, as on it 
very much of the success frequently depends. The 
pots, in this case, should be placed as near each other 
as possible, and the space between them well filled in 
with fine loam. Afterwards, narrow strips of wood, of 
a suitable size, should be laid crossways, and securely 
nailed to ledges on the sides of the case. Large quan- 
tities of plants, such as Orchids, Bromeliads, &c., which 
live a long time without moisture, are successfully 
imported in strong packing-cases of ordinary make, 
bound with hoop iron. 
Flowers. With these, the private gardener has much 
to do, particularly throughont the summer, as large quan- 
tities have to be transmitted frequently, at long dis- 
tances, to meet the customary demand. With increased 
facilities for sending small parcels, amateurs and cot- 
tagers are also enabled to favour their less fortunate 
friends with flowers whenever they are sufficiently plen- 
tiful. Here, too, the condition in which flowers arrive at 
their destination, depends very materially on the method 
of Packing adopted, It is obvious that if flowers, which 
should travel perfectly well when properly packed, arrive 
in a useless state, a great waste of material is effected, 
and disappointment caused, that, with ordinary care, 
might have been prevented. Flowers that are intended 
for travelling are invariably all the better for being cut 
at least a few hours previous to being packed, and placed 
in water. f 
purpose when the sun is shining, so as to cause the least 
sign of flagging. Evening, or, better still, early morn- 
ing, should be the time chosen. Boxes, sufficiently strong, 
and proportionate in size to the quantity it is intended 
to send, should always be used; baskets are not satis- 
factory, as they allow so much evaporation, and do not 
prevent the evil influences from outside, either of heat 
or cold. Different flowers vary considerably in respect 
of the amount of pressure they will bear. The aim should 
be, in all cases, to completely fill the space up to the 
lid, and thus prevent the contents from shaking about. 
Should the flowers not be sufficient to do this, clean, 
damp moss may be placed in the bottom, or amongst 
them; but a box of the proper size is preferable. Cotton 
wool, so often placed amongst flowers, is not to be re- 
commended, on account of its absorbent nature. Sup- 
posing mixed flowers are to be packed together, all the 
heavier ones should be placed at the bottom, and others 
carefully arranged above them. A little light fern laid 
over the top, then a double sheet of tissue paper, will 
prepare the way for the lid, which will then lightly 
press everything into its place without injury. Such 
quickly-injured flowers as Eucharis, Gardenias, &c., where 
a quantity have to be packed, should be provided with 
shallow boxes, just deep enough for carrying single speci- 
mens. These should be laid nearly close together, and 
held in position with moss slightly damped, tissue paper 
being then put over the top, beneath the lid. Some en- 
velop each flower in soft paper separately; but this 
takes up more space, and, if they travel safely, unpacking 
cannot be so readily accomplished. - Choice bouquets, 
wreaths, &., should have special boxes provided for 
them, in which they can be fixed, so that shifting about 
is an impossibility. Boxes intended for carrying flowers 
through the post are best made of stout tin, strong 
enough to withstand the stamping process, as these are 
found to preserve their contents fresher than any others. 
If cardboard boxes are used, they should be provided 
with a lip, or flap, at the end, to which the stamps 
should be affixed. Tin boxes, of various sizes, are 
1 
In summer, nothing should be cut for this 
specially prepared to meet postal requirements, and their 
general use for flowers is recommended. Careful and 
close Packing is here specially an essential, as small 
parcels have to withstand a deal of more or less rough 
usage before reaching their destination. 
Fruits. Besides despatching supplies of fruit, to meet 
family requirements, large quantities have also to be sent 
from various places to market, and the condition in 
which such consignments arrive greatly affects their 
value. To the system of Packing much relating to suc- 
cess or failure may generally be attributed, although 
the condition of many fruits, at the time they are 
packed, must not be overlooked. Such soft-skinned 
subjects as Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, Strawberries, &c., 
require most careful handling, and will not travel satis- 
factorily in an over-ripe state. It becomes necessary, 
therefore, to gather them for Packing before they are 
fully ripe. This, unfortunately, detracts from their 
quality very considerably, but it is unavoidable where 
the results of a railway journey are to be taken into 
consideration. With Grapes, it is important that their 
bloom should be, as much as possible, preserved. With 
this end in view, the bunches are frequently packed 
close together, in moderately deep boxes or baskets, with 
an inside lining, on the bottom and around the sides, of 
soft, dry moss, covered with tissue paper. If provision 
can be made for keeping the box or basket upright 
throughout its journey, there is no need of putting any- 
thing beneath the lid. If this cannot be insured, similar 
paper, and a layer of moss, should be used, as on the 
the sides, for filling the vacant space; but this is almost 
certain to destroy more or less bloom. The bunches 
should be close enough together in the space to prevent 
rubbing or shifting about. Peaches, Nectarines, and Figs, 
must not be over-ripe, or their skins are sure to get 
bruised in transit. These fruits should be packed in boxes 
only deep enough to take one layer. Each fruit should 
be carefully wrapped in tissue paper, and sometimes it 
becomes necessary to have a thin band of cotton wool in 
addition. Figs are best packed in Vine leaves, without 
paper or cotton wool. Boxes about 3}in. or 4in. deep are 
most suitable, as these afford space for a layer of dry 
moss in the bottom, which acts as a bed; and if the 
fruits do not fill up, a sheet of tissue paper, and a little 
more moss or cotton wool above it, should be placed 
beneath the lid. Strawberries are best packed in boxes 
holding only single layers; 2in. deep is sufficient. A 
quantity of soft leaves should be gathered with the 
fruits, or from spare plants, and allowed to wither a 
little. In proceeding to pack, a leaf should be put round 
each fruit, which should then be placed in the box, one 
after the other, until the space is filled. Sufficient leaves 
are then laid over the top to fill up to the lid. All 
leaves used must be dry on the surface, otherwise they 
will injure the fruit. Apricots and Plums may be packed 
like Peaches, but they are not so delicate, and suffer 
less readily. Cherries travel well, when not too ripe, 
by being simply laid close together, in very shallow 
boxes. When it is necessary to preserve the bloom on 
Plums, they may be similarly treated. 
PADIA. A synonym of Oryza (which see), 
PADUS. See Cerasus Padus. 
PÆDERIA (from pedor, an offensive smell; referring 
to the rank odour of P. fetida). Syn. Hondbessen. ORD. 
Ru biacem. A small genus (five or six species) of stove, 
climbing shrubs, with twining stems, natives of tropical 
Asia, and one Brazilian. Flowers small, disposed in loose, 
two or three-forked cymes, produced either from the axils 
of the leaves or at the ends of the branches; calyx 
persistent, four or five-toothed; corolla tubular or 
funnel-shaped, hairy inside; limb of four or five spread- 
ing lobes. Fruit a small berry. Leaves opposite, rarely 
