1186 



PACHYSANDBA 



PACKING 



ciduous, 3-nerved broad Ivs. above: spikes staminate 

 above, with a few pistillate fls. at the base of each: stam- 

 inate fls. with 4 sepals and stamens and a rudimentary 

 pistil ; sepals variable in number in the pistillate flowers ; 

 petals none; pistil 3-celled, 2 ovules in each cell: seeds 

 smooth. Two species known; of low and dense growth. 

 Very early flowered and attractive to bees. Of little 

 value in gardens except for the masses of bright green 

 Ivs. Easily prop, by division in ordinary soils. Good 

 for rockeries. 



prociimbens, Michx. MOUNTAIN SPURGE. Fig. 1605. 

 With spikes of white or purplish fls. from the base of 

 the stems. March-May. W. Va. to Fla. B. M. 1964. 

 L. B.C. 10: 910. B.R.I: 33. 



terminalis, Sieb. & Zucc., has the small spikes of 

 whitish fls. terminal, and the Ivs. obovate-cuneate; 

 dwarf. May. Japan. Var. variegata, Hort., with white 

 variegated Ivs., is in the trade. 



P. coridcea, Hook., cult, in Europe, is referred to Sarco- 

 cocea - J. B. S. NORTON. 



P. procumbens is, in the vicinity of Boston, decidu- 

 ous, and is only desirable from the feature of its curi- 

 ous flowers borne so extremely early in the spring. The 

 foliage is of a dingy color and deciduous, whereas 

 P. terminalis is a true evergreen with thick, glossy 

 foliage forming a dense mat, making a very desirable 

 low-growing cover plant, succeeding admirably either 

 in full sun or partial shade. The variety variegata is a 

 very choice cover plant for ornamental effects. 



J. WOODWARD MANNING. 



PACEtfSTIMA. See Pachistima. 



PACKAGES. See Packing. 



PACKING. The operation of placing fresh fruits and 

 vegetables, cut-flowers or living plants in suitable bas- 

 kets, boxes, barrels or bales for safe transportation. (The 

 term is also sometimes used for the process of canning 

 or preserving cooked fruits and vegetables when done 

 on a commercial scale. ) The term is especially employed 



1606. Packing of cut-flowers. 



when perishable horticultural products are prepared for 

 long shipment. Much of the value of such products for 

 distant markets depends on proper packing. With trans- 

 ported nursery stock of all kinds the life of the plants 

 depends on it, while with fruits, vegetables and cut- 



flowers the attractiveness and salability of the product 

 are very largely determined by the care and judgment 

 with which the goods are packed. 



The requisites for the proper packing of living plants 

 are: (1) that the roots be protected from injurious dry- 

 ing by a covering of some damp material, (2) the par- 

 tial exclusion of the air, and (3) that ventilation be suf- 

 ficient to prevent the heating of the contents of the 

 package. Bog moss (sphagnum) is the material com- 



1607. Berry crate, holding 32 boxes. 



monly used to prevent the drying out of the roots. 

 Moistened hay, straw, chaff, planer shavings, or other 

 similar material is sometimes substituted for the moss, 

 or used in connection with it. 



Small plants, as strawberries, cabbages, etc., are often 

 packed upright, one layer deep, in light, paper-lined 

 baskets, with the roots bedded in moist sphagnum, the 

 plants being crowded together so closely as to prevent 

 undue drying. Small plants in pots may be shipped in 

 the same way, or, if the time occupied in transit does 

 not exceed 3 or 4 days, they may be knocked from the 

 pots and wrapped in paper with the ball of earth still 

 adhering to the roots. Paper pots are also manufac- 

 tured for this and other purposes. These paper bundles 

 are then placed in any convenient box or crate. 



Fruit trees and most other dormant nursery stock 

 are packed in large boxes, or in bales covered with straw 

 and bagging, enough sphagnum and other packing ma- 

 terial being used to keep the contents slightly moist. 

 Large shipments of nursery stock are often made by 

 packing in bulk in the car, thus saving the expense of 

 boxes. 



Cut-flowers are necessarily perishable, but the kinds 

 most used by florists may be kept in good condition for 

 several days if they are so packed as to avoid crushing 

 and to maintain a cool, water-saturated atmosphere. 

 This condition is best secured by placing the flowers a 

 single layer deep, in light, shallow boxes or trays that 

 are placed one on top of another and strapped together 

 for shipment. Each tray is lined with a sheet of oiled 

 paper large enough to fold over the top and to protect the 

 contents from drying. Suffi- 

 cient moisture is secured by 

 using damp paper for packing 

 about the stems. A cool tem- 

 perature is essential, and 

 should be secured by refriger- 

 ation if necessary. Fig. 1606. 



The methods of packing 

 fruits and vegetables neces- 

 sarily differ widely with the 

 nature of the articles to be 

 packed, and for the same prod- 

 uct custom often has estab- 

 lished different practices in 

 different parts of the country. 

 Formerly, it was the habit in 

 many markets to return empty 

 packages to the shipper, so that they could be used 

 over and over again. With the vast increase in distant 

 shipments, due to improved transportation facilities, 

 this became impossible, and now cheap gift packages 

 intended to be used but once are coming into favor and 

 in some regions are used exclusively. 



For berries of all kinds, and other small fruits, quart 



1608. Delaware peach 

 basket. 



