280 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



flowers either very early in the morning 1 , or the last thing 

 at night. Then put them away in water till wanted, in 

 order that they may absorb all the moisture to keep them 

 fresh through their travels. Wooden boxes are more 

 suitable than those of cardboard for packing flowers. They 

 may cost a trifle more, but the extra outlay will be well 

 worth the better condition in which the flowers are 

 preserved. When possible place at the bottom of the box a 

 sheet of dry, not damp, cotton wool, and over this lay a 

 sheet of soft tissue paper, on which to arrange the flowers in 

 rows, taking care that the head of each rests immediately 

 over the stem of the preceding one. Avoid the mistake of 

 overcrowding. The box ought to be about ten inches iii 

 depth, and should not contain more than one layer of 

 flowers, or the results may be disappointing. When 

 sending ferns, put them at the bottom of the box, placing 

 soft paper between them and the flowers. Maidenhair 

 should be kept very moist when packed. A " refresher " 

 in common use for keeping up the freshness of cut flowers 

 is nitrate of potash, or sweet nitre ; joz. per pint of water 

 is about right. The same (t refresher" is good for growing 

 plants as well, but it is then applied to the soil of course. 



XXII. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRESERVING. 



THE PROSPECT. This branch of agriculture offers 

 many inducements for the most careful application of 

 skill that can be brought to bear upon it. The demand 

 for fruits preserved by bottling, canning, drying, candying 

 or crystallising ; and as jams, jellies, and other preserves, 

 is unlimited. The right materials are here to supply the 

 demand. With the facilities available for carriage, the 

 market for Australian fruit preserves is Unlimited. 



Requirements for Success. Properly matured first 

 class fruits of the kinds in demand ; pure, white Australian 

 cane sugar ; the necessary appliances for preserving ; 

 attractive methods of marketing are all necessary for the 

 full development of this trade. 



