TAKING TIP TREES FROM THE NURSERY. 171 



Purchasers should invariably charge the nurseryman, to 

 whom they send their orders, to pack in the best manner. 

 Better pay one or even two cents per tree for packing 

 than lose it, or injure it so much as to make it almost 

 worthless. 



The mode of packing pursued here is this : Where the 

 trees are packed in bundles, a number of ties are first laid 

 down, then a layer of long rye straw, three or four inches 

 deep ; the trees are then laid compactly together, straw 

 being placed among the tops, to prevent their being chafed 

 when drawn together, and damp moss from the swamp is 

 shaken among the roots. When the bundle is built, long 

 straw is placed on the top as below, and it is then bound 

 up as tightly as it can be drawn. Straw is then placed 

 around the roots sufficiently thick to exclude the air, and 

 then a bass mat is sewed on over the straw. If the bun- 

 dle is only to go a short distance, the straw can be so se- 

 cured around the roots that the mats may be dispensed 

 with ; but if it has a long journey to perform, it should 

 be matted from bottom to top, and sewed with strong, 

 tarred, spun yarn, about as thick as a goose-quill Hoxes 

 are more secure for very long journeys ; they are generally 

 made of 6 | 8 -inch white pine timber. Boxes are now em- 

 ployed almost exclusively, as they are found to be cheaper 

 and safer, and railroads charge one-half more freight on 

 strawed or matted bundles. If the trees are composed 

 of several varieties, they should be tied in small parcels 

 of four to six each, according to the size. The sides and 

 ends of the box should be well lined with straw, and the 

 roots bedded in moss and the tops in straw, to prevent 

 chafing. 



If the box be large, two rows of cleats are necessary 

 one in the middle, and one in the top, to hold the trees in 

 their place, and to keep the box from spreading. When 

 the box is nailed up, it should be banded both at the ends 

 and middle with iron hoops, fastened with wrought nails. 



