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packing must undergo a little more preparation. The 

 green fibres must be cut with a pair of scissors from the 

 roots. Only the green, soft and living fibres are used, 

 and the roots, stems and dead leaves thrown away as use- 

 less. This fine moss must then be washed thoroughly. 

 A very convenient, way is to nail wire netting over the 

 bottom of an old soap box. Cut the moss into this, and 

 dipping it into water wash thoroughly so as to remove 

 all dirt and insects, the latter being often injurousto the 

 eggs. By simply lifting the box out of the water, you 

 drain the moss. 



The eggs are then taken out of the trough, by being 

 brushed with a feather into a spoon. If you wish to count 

 them, fill your glass measure with water, and turn the 

 contents of the spoon into it. When the five hundred 

 or thousand eggs are measured, pour them into a ladle 

 (small enough to go inside of the packing box), having 

 previously filled the ladle with water ; then sink the 

 ladle beneath the water in the packing box, and by 

 gently tipping and shaking it the eggs will fall to the 

 bottom of the box ; where they may be spread evenly 

 over the moss with a feather. A layer of prepared moss 

 must then be lightly laid over the eggs without taking 

 the box entirely out of the water, and another five hundred 

 or thousand eggs put in. Then fill the box with the same 

 kind of moss, take it out of the water and let it stand a 

 little while so that the water may drain off through the 

 holes in the bottom, and the damp, spongy moss be left, 

 an elastic and life-giving cushion to keep the eggs from 

 feeling sudden jolts on the journey, and to supply them 

 with ox} 7 gen. It will drain more quickly if a chip is 

 placed under the bottom at one side. When the water 

 is all drained off the covers are to be placed on the boxes, 



