TAKING UP AXD SENDING TO MARKET. 65 



The bundles are usually tied with strong twine in sev- 

 eral places, and the label is secured to the twine by a 

 small wire, passing through or around the end thereof, 

 and fastened to the twine by slipping one strand under, 

 and the other above the twine, and twisting the ends to- 

 gether. Ordinary iron wire will answer for this purpose ; 

 but copper wire, being more ductile, and less liable to 

 rust, is preferable, and is now mostly used by our large 

 nurserymen. 



When the bundles have been thus made up, they are 

 brought to the shanty to be inspected and verified with 

 the recorded order. Each variety is placed on a pile by 

 itself, and the overseer then reads, as before, " Fifteen 

 hundred Hale's Early, five hundred Early York," etc. 

 The varieties and numbers being found to correspond with 

 the order, the bundles are now carefully packed ; and this 

 is done in two ways. If the trees are to be sent a great 

 distance, it is usual and preferable to pack in large boxes. 

 These are made of boards of the cheapest material, and 

 of various widths, in order to facilitate boxing. The 

 length is usually eight or nine feet, the breadth and depth 

 thirty-six to forty inches. The thickness of the boards is 

 usually three-quarter inch for sides, and one inch for ends. 



In order to support and strengthen the boxes still 

 further, it is usual and indeed necessary, to put several 

 bands of hoop-iron clear around them. In this way they 

 will carry safely any distance. When the boxes are 

 ready, the packer puts some old straw, hay, or other soft 

 substance, light and capable of retaining moisture, in the 

 bottom of the box. He then lays a bundle of trees in, 

 with the roots towards the end, and another bundle 

 with the roots towards the opposite end, and so on, 

 until the box is full. In this way the tops overlap, 

 so that the thickness of the mass is nearly uniform 

 throughout the length of the box being guaged so as 

 ta effectuate this as nearly as may be. When the box 

 5 



