2IO Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [\o April, 1912. 



one another, 8 to 10 strands of hay lashing (rope), first tying a loop upon 

 one end of each of the strands. Then the straw or rush is laid upon 

 the strands, beginning from the centre of the ropes and kept as nearly as 

 possible all one way ; the width is to be judged by the quantity of trees- 

 to be packed. If the bundle is to be bottle-shaped, i.e., a bundle in' 

 which the roots of the trees are placed all at one end, about 18 inches 

 of the material used should overlap the last strand of rope at the bottom, 

 or root end, of it, and the bedding should be laid wider at the bottom, 

 and tapering off to the top. If a double end bundle is required, that is 

 O'ue having the roots of the trees placed at each end, the packing material: 

 should overlap at both ends, and its length will be determined by the 

 growth of the trees. The ropes and packing material having been placed 

 in position, a light covering of the damp root material is to be spread 

 upon the bedding at the end, or ends, where the roots are to lie. Then 

 a strand of rope is laid across the top of the bedding parallel to, and over, 

 the second rope from the bottom ; also one near the top of the bundle. 

 If all the trees to be packed in the bundle are of the one variety there 

 is no necessity to tie them up into small lots, and each lot labelled sepa- 

 rately, but they may be allowed to lie loosely, and only the 

 one tag affixed. The trees are laid upon the bedding, the 

 roots of the first layer or two placed over and midway between 

 the two last strands of rope at the basal end, and the first layer 

 of trees having been placed in position the damp root material is packed' 

 well amongst the roots. This process is continued until all the trees are 

 placed in position. It is not necessary to place all the roots of the trees 

 directly upon one another j a certain quantity of them may be worked 

 forward toward the head growths, care being observed that the roots 

 receive attention in regard to damp material with a little of the dry 

 packing worked in amongst the head growths to prevent them from 

 breaking. The ends of the two strands that were placed upon the top Cif 

 the bedding should now be passed through the loops, drawn taut, and 

 tied off. A covering is to be placed upon the top of the trees, equal in 

 length to the bottom bedding and overlapping the material at the root 

 end. Each strand is to be taken separately, one end passed through the 

 loop, drawn fairly taut and half-hitched off. All the strands having been 

 fixed each rope in turn is to be undone and drawn tight, slacking tO' be 

 prevented bv tying off with two half-hitch knots. The bottom of the 

 bundle must now receive attention ; the roots are to be covered with moist 

 material and a piece of rope tied to the second last strand, hitched to the 

 last, and enough length of rope left to insure that where a loop is tied 

 it will reach to the centre of the bottom of the bundle. Half of the- 

 overlapping material is to be folded well in, the loop end of the short 

 rope drawn down, and a short stick placed through the loop ; press care- 

 fully into the bundle in order to keep the folded-in material in position 

 whilst turning the bundle over. This done, take a strand of rope and 

 begin strapping half-way along, working down to the bottom of the 

 bundle and hitching off at the last strand. Finish folding in the other 

 half of the overlapping material, withdraw the stick, pass the end of the- 

 rope through the loop, draw taut, and hitch off : quarter off the bundle 

 by strapping in the same manner ; cut away anv superfluous ends ot 

 rope and the bundle is finished. To- guard against breakage care must be- 

 ex<ircised when the ropes are being drawn taut over the basal portion of 

 the branched growths. When fruit trees are being packed, those having: 



