CHAPTER XIII. 



PREPARING EXHIBITS 



Some time previous to the flowering season suitable boxes should be 

 made ready. Also material necessary for packing and staging, such as 

 cleats, excelsior, paper for wrapping and lining cases, labels for plants 

 ard cut blooms, and exhibitors' cards. This will save anxiety at the last 

 when so many details require constant attention. 



Plants All pots should be washed clean before packing and each 

 lila lit securely staked and tied, thoroughly watered, and plainly labeled. 

 Where specimens and standards are to be exhibited, the intervening spaces 

 between the blooms should be filled with crumpled tissue paper to prevent 

 shifting and rubbing against each other. With a strong cord draw the 

 plant together as close as possible without injury. 



If they are to be transported a short distance and the weather is fav- 

 orable they may be taken as they are. For long shipments that will be 



FIG. 29. WRAPPING A BLOOM. 



six or more hours in transit, provide each plant with a frame work, around 

 which paper can be wrapped to keep the blooms clean. Should there be 

 danger of freezing, cotton wadding or several thicknesses of paper will be 

 necessary. 



Single stemmed plants are usually shipped in boxes the height of the 

 pots, with a post in each corner (extending a little above the plant) to 

 which strips are nailed horizontally to form a rigid framework. The 

 spaces between the pots are tucked with excelsior and the flowers wrapped 

 with paper or other tissue. The frame is then covered with paper or other 

 material as necessity demands. 



