Management of Nurseries. 143 



Convenient dimensions for boxes where large quantities are to be 

 packed, are two and a half feet square and nine feet long. They 

 should be made of light and strong boards, and if sound half an inch 

 in thickness will answer. Four series of battens will be necessary 

 for the length two at the ends, and the others at intervals of three 

 feet between. Good battens are made of elm or other wood of equal 

 hardness and toughness, which may be sawed for this purpose into 

 strips two and a half inches wide and an inch and a fourth in thick- 

 ness. When the boards are well nailed to these battens, the whole 

 forms a stout box. When closely and solidly packed, the lid is 

 nailed on, and iron-hoops are nailed on the outside against every 

 batten, and extending around the box. The direction is then writ- 

 ten distinctly with a mixture of lamp-black and turpentine, or of 

 lamp-black and rock-oil. The following materials should be pro- 

 cured beforehand for packing : Boxes, with iron-straps or hoops for 

 the corners ; moss, for the roots ; straw, for the tops ; labels, for 

 designating the sorts ; flag, oziers, or rye-straw, for tying bunches ; 

 large labels of cloth, parchment, or wood, for designating bunches ; 

 lamp-black and turpentine or rock-oil, and brush for marking boxes. 

 If the trees are to be packed in bales or bundles, provide long, 

 straight rye or other straw, baling-cord, gunny-cloth or Russia mats, 

 sewing-twine, large packing-needles, directing-labels, white-lead 

 paint, and soft pencil. 



After the crop of nursery trees is removed from the ground 

 another one should not be planted in the same place until the soil 

 has fully recovered from the exhaustion of the first. An interme- 

 diate crop of clover turned under for manure is found useful. There 

 should be an interval of at least two or three years before occupying 

 the ground again with nursery ; although a less time is often given 

 in connexion with heavy manuring. 



