Propagation and Renewal 231 



packed in very tightly, alternating with layers of moss. 

 If the order is for 250 to 500 plants, the bunches may be 

 set upright ; if for more, they are packed in double rows 

 with the roots interlacing at the center and leaves exposed 

 (Plate XX) . A second or third double row may be placed 

 above this, with damp moss between. To avoid heating, 

 not more than 2500 plants should be packed in one crate. 

 The top is covered with moss and oiled paper. If the 

 crate is not full, add straw or excelsior until the cover can 

 be crowded down, so that there will be no slack. Plants 

 packed in this way may be shipped several thousand miles 

 without injury, in cool weather. Sphagnum moss is used 

 as a packing material, almost exclusively. Sawdust can 

 be used, but is more likely to heat. It is well to stamp 

 the date of shipment on the package. For long distance 

 shipments some prefer to pack very closely and ship in 

 air-tight boxes. Plants have been shipped successfully 

 to France in sealed tin cans. This method is not likely 

 to succeed unless the plants are perfectly dormant and the 

 weather cool. 



Quality in a strawberry plant. 



Most growers prefer plants of medium size, with strong 

 roots and small crowns, to very large plants, because there 

 is less crown surface exposed for transpiration of water. 

 Old plants always are undesirable. A considerable por- 

 tion of the very cheap stock offered by unscrupulous nurs- 

 erymen consists of two-year-old plants that have borne 

 fruit, or potted plants that were not sold the previous 

 summer. Until quite recently, plants about one year old 

 were preferred for spring planting in the North. For 

 many years it was the prevailing opinion that the first, 

 second and third runners are valuable for setting in the 



