CHAPTER XXIX. 



PACKING AZALEA PLANTS FOR SHIPMENT. TREATMENT BEST 



FOR THEM AFTER THEY ARE RECEIVED. 



The wood of these plants is very brittle, therefore some 

 care must be exercised in packing them. 



From the first of June until the latter part of Septem- 

 ber, pack in open boxes as you would any other plants, and 

 with or without the pots. Although those packed without 

 pots will carry in a much better condition, providing the 

 roots are in sufficient number to keep the ball of earth 

 together. The freight or express charges will be much less, 

 which is quite an item. 



After the plants are removed from the pots, use dry 

 moss around the ball of earth, then wrap only the ball in 

 brown paper. It is not necessary to have the whole plant 

 covered with paper. 



When plants of either the Camellia or Azalea are 

 received without pots during the fall, or whenever the buds 

 are formed, place them back in the same or nearly the 

 same size pots as they were in before being shipped. A 

 larger size pot and fresh soil at this time will cause many 

 of them to cast their buds and begin to grow. The result 

 will be no flowers the coming season. 



If received in the spring when the plants are growing, 

 or about to show their young growth, and the ball is well 

 matted with roots, a size larger pot will be necessary, and 

 it will, in fact, greatly benefit the plants. 



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