AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



Packing continued. 



near the outside. Plants packed in matted baskets are 

 usually stood upright, string being tied in both directions 

 across the top, to keep each pot in its proper position. 

 Living plants are usually sent to, and received from, 

 foreign countries, in Wardian cases. Packing is here, 

 again, an important part of the undertaking, as on it 

 very much of the success frequently depends. The 

 pots, in this case, should be placed as near each other 

 as possible, and the space between them well filled in 

 with fine loam. Afterwards, narrow strips of wood, of 

 a suitable size, should be laid crossways, and securely 

 nailed to ledges on the sides of the case. Large quan- 

 tities of plants, such as Orchids, Bromeliads, &c., which 

 live a long time without moisture, are successfully 

 imported in strong packing-cases of ordinary make, 

 bound with hoop iron. 



Flowers. With these, the private gardener has much 

 to do, particularly throughout the summer, as large quan- 

 tities have to be transmitted frequently, at long dis- 

 tances, to meet the customary demand. With increased 

 facilities for sending small parcels, amateurs and cot- 

 tagers are also enabled to favour their less fortunate 

 friends with flowers whenever they are sufficiently plen- 

 tiful. Here, too, the condition in which flowers arrive at 

 their destination, depends very materially on the method 

 of Packing adopted. It is obvious that if flowers, which 

 should travel perfectly well when properly packed, arrive 

 in a useless state, a great waste of material is effected, 

 and disappointment caused, that, with ordinary care, 

 might have been prevented. Flowers that are intended 

 for travelling are invariably all the better for being cut 

 at least a few hours previous to being packed, and placed 

 in water. In summer, nothing should be cut for this 

 purpose when the sun is shining, so as to cause the least 

 sign of flagging. Evening, or, better still, early morn- 

 ing, should be the time chosen. Boxes, sufficiently strong, 

 and proportionate in size to the quantity it is intended 

 to send, should always be used; baskets are not satis- 

 factory, as they allow so much evaporation, and do not 

 prevent the evil influences from outside, either of heat 

 or cold. Different flowers vary considerably in respect 

 of the amount of pressure they will bear. The aim should 

 be, in all cases, to completely fill the space up to the 

 lid, and thus prevent the contents from shaking about. 

 Should the flowers not be sufficient to do this, clean, 

 damp moss may be placed in the bottom, or amongst 

 them ; but a box of the proper size is preferable. Cotton 

 wool, so often placed amongst flowers, is not to be re- 

 commended, on account of its absorbent nature. Sup- 

 posing mixed flowers are to be packed together, all the 

 heavier ones should be placed at the bottom, and others 

 carefully arranged above them. A little light fern laid 

 over the top, then a double sheet of tissue paper, will 

 prepare the way for the lid, which will then lightly 

 press everything into its place without injury. Such 

 quickly-injured flowers as Eucharis, Gardenias, &c., where 

 a quantity have to be packed, should be provided with 

 shallow boxes, just deep enough for carrying single speci- 

 mens. These should be laid nearly close together, and 

 held in position with moss slightly damped, tissue paper 

 being then put over the top, beneath the lid. Some en- 

 velop each flower in soft paper separately; but this 

 takes up more space, and, if they travel safely, unpacking 

 cannot be so readily accomplished. Choice bouquets, 

 wreaths, &c., should have special boxes provided for 

 them, in which they can be fixed, so that shifting about 

 is an impossibility. Boxes intended for carrying flowers 

 through the post are best made of stout tin, strong 

 enough to withstand the stamping process, as these are 

 found to preserve their contents fresher than any others. 

 If cardboard boxes are used, they should be provided 

 with a lip, or flap, at the end, to which the stamps 

 should be affixed. Tin boxes, of various sizes, are 



Packing continued. 



specially prepared to meet postal requirements, and their 

 general use for flowers is recommended. Careful and 

 close Packing is here specially an essential, as small 

 parcels have to withstand a deal of more or less rough 

 usage before reaching their destination. 



Fruits. Besides despatching supplies of fruit, to meet 

 family requirements, large quantities have also to be sent 

 from various places to market, and the condition in 

 which such consignments arrive greatly affects their 

 value. To the system of Packing much relating to suc- 

 cess or failure may generally be attributed, although 

 the condition of many fruits, at the time they are 

 packed, must not be overlooked. Such soft-skinned 

 subjects as Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, Strawberries, &c., 

 require most careful handling, and will not travel satis- 

 factorily in an over-ripe state. It becomes necessary, 

 therefore, to gather them for Packing before they are 

 fully ripe. This, unfortunately, detracts from their 

 quality very considerably, but it is unavoidable where 

 the results of a railway journey are to be taken into 

 consideration. With Grapes, it is important that their 

 bloom should be, as much as possible, preserved. With 

 this end in view, the bunches are frequently packed 

 close together, in moderately deep boxes or baskets, with 

 an inside lining, on the bottom and around the sides, of 

 soft, dry moss, covered with tissue paper. If provision 

 can be made for keeping the box or basket upright 

 throughout its journey, there is no need of putting any- 

 thing beneath the lid. If this cannot be insured, similar 

 paper, and a layer of moss, should be used, as on the 

 the sides, for filling the vacant space ; but this is almost 

 certain to destroy more or less bloom. The bunches 

 should be close enough together in the space to prevent 

 rubbing or shifting about. Peaches, Nectarines, and Figs, 

 must not be over-ripe, or their skins are sure to get 

 bruised in transit. These fruits should be packed in boxes 

 only deep enough to take one layer. Each fruit should 

 be carefully wrapped in tissue paper, and sometimes it 

 becomes necessary to have a thin band of cotton wool in 

 addition. Figs are best packed in Vine leaves, without 

 paper or cotton wool. Boxes about 3in. or 4in. deep are 

 most suitable, as these afford space for a layer of dry 

 moss in the bottom, which acts as a bed ; and if the 

 fruits do not fill up, a sheet of tissue paper, and a little 

 more moss or cotton wool above it, should be placed 

 beneath the lid. Strawberries are best packed in boxes 

 holding only single layers; 2in. deep is sufficient. A 

 quantity of soft leaves should be gathered with the 

 fruits, or from spare plants, and allowed to wither a 

 little. In proceeding to pack, a leaf should be put round 

 each fruit, which should then be placed in the box, one 

 after the other, until the space is filled. Sufficient leaves 

 are then laid over the top to fill up to the lid. All 

 leaves used must be dry on the surface, otherwise they 

 will injure the fruit. Apricots and Plums may be packed 

 like Peaches, but they are not so delicate, and suffer 

 less readily. Cherries travel well, when not too ripe, 

 by being simply laid close together, in very shallow 

 boxes. When it is necessary to preserve the bloom on 

 Plums, they may be similarly treated. 



FADIA. A synonym of Oryza (which see). 



PADUS. See Cerasus Fadus. 



F2EDEB.IA (from pcedor, an offensive smell ; referring 

 to the rank odour of P. fcetida). SYN. Hondbessen. OBD. 

 RubiacecB. A small genus (five or six species) of stove, 

 climbing shrubs, with twining stems, natives of tropical 

 Asia, and one Brazilian. Flowers small, disposed in loose, 

 two or three-forked cymes, produced either from the axils 

 of the leaves or at the ends of the branches; calyx 

 persistent, four or five-toothed; corolla tubular or 

 funnel-shaped, hairy inside; limb of four or five spread- 

 ing lobes. Fruit a small berry. Leaves opposite, rarely 



