200 THE FIG: ITS HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CURING. 
tom part of the strip, while the upright part separates two rows. 
Fresh fig leaves may be used in the same way, but are not quite so 
handy, though if properly placed they give a tasteful appearance to 
the box. 
Salieylic-acid paper and wax paper have also been recommended. 
The latter is less useful than the former, as it excludes theair. Sali- 
eylic paper aids in preserving the figs, and is cheap and practical. It 
may be used instead of common paper, or the common paper may be 
turned into salicylic paper by being sprinkled with a solution of sali- 
eylie acid in aleohol, in proportion of 1 pound of acid to 10 gallons of 
alcohol. 
But figs may be successfully shipped long distances by simply being 
packed in boxes without paper or leaves, the number of layers always 
to depend on the quality of the fig; but it is safe to say that even the 
most thick-skinned figs should preferably be placed only two layers 
deep, while very delicate figs should be packed in one layer only. 
