Vol. J. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, DECEMBER 23, 1897. 



No. 4. 



PACKING AS AlFINE ART. 



The ol<l adage used to be, "First catch 

 your hare, then cook hitn;" the new one 

 appHcable to my article is, "First get 

 your order, then pack it," and when I sa\' 

 pack it, I mean pack it properly. One of 

 the most essential points after receiving 

 an order is to see that the above new 

 adage is carried out, not extravagantly, as 

 I have seen some shipments, but care- 

 fully and judiciously. For instance, a 

 basket or case of plants going fifteen or 

 twent}' miles away, does not require the 

 elaborate packing of a shipment across 

 the continent or across the ocean. Many 

 a kick has been registered about bad 

 packing, and it exhibits the character of 

 a firm whether the arrival of a shipment 

 of plants is good, bad or indifferent. An 

 order for .goods, properly filled, is often 

 spoiled by bad or careless packing; and 

 good packing is as necessary as good 

 stock. 



A good packer, like the poet, is "born, 

 not made," and is, indeed, worthy of his 

 hire. Until within a few years a regular 

 packing staff was rather the exception 

 than the rule; now it is a necessary ad- 

 junct to all firms doing or contemplating 

 a shipping business, more specially ap- 

 plied to palm and fern growers, v.'hich are 

 daily increasing in number, and are scat- 

 tered over the States of the Union. The 

 time for "any old way," and "au}' old 

 thing" to pack in, is, I hope, relegated to 

 the past. In future set aside a part of 

 your establishment for a packing "room" 

 or "shed," whichever you like. 



One patterned after our illustration will 

 give a fair idea. That it should be room}- 

 goes without saj-ing, and no convenience 

 or labor-saving device should be omitted. 

 A pair of scales will facilitate matters at 

 the express office or freight depot, and 

 will be a check on both. Mark the 

 weight of each case upon it before it 

 leaves the place, and see that every detail 

 of address and shipping instructions are 

 marked also, clearly and distinctly. 



As to material, such as boxes, lumber, 

 excelsior, nails, string, paper, etc., the 

 location will determine the price; get 



Illustration No. 1 . System used for packing plants "out of pots," either for " upright ' 



or " slatted " systems. 



price and buy in quantity; don't buy in 

 "dribbles." 



Different seasons of the year determine 

 different methods, though the principle 

 remains the same. In my article I shall 

 try to confine myself to fall and winter 

 packing; thoroughness is the key-note of 



all. The two principal systems I will 

 call "slatted" and "upright" packing, 

 describing the former first. 



In picking out your order, which do 

 personally if you can, place j-ourself in 

 the "buj'er's"' position, and select only 

 the best everv time; the "smaller" stock 



