TAKING Ur TREKS FROM THE NURSERY. 17\ 



Purcliasers shoul<l invariably chari^e the nurseryman, to 

 whom they send their onlers, to pucJc bi the best manner. 

 Better i>ay one or even two cents per tree for packing 

 than lose it, or injure it so much as to make it almost 

 worthless. 



The mode of packing pursued here is this : Where the 

 trees nre packed in bundles, a number of ties are first laid 

 down, then a layer of long rye straw, three or four inches 

 deep; the trees are then laid compactly together, straw 

 being pLaced among the tops, to prevent their being chafed 

 when di-awn together, and damp moss fi-om the swamp is 

 shaken among the roots. Wlteii tlie bundle is l)uilt, long 

 straw is placed on the top ns below, and it is then bound 

 up as tightly as it can be drawn. Straw is then placed 

 around the roots sufficiently thick to exclude the air, and 

 then a bass mat is sewed on over tlie straw. If the bun- 

 dle is only to go a short distance, the straw can be so se- 

 cured around the roots tliat the mats may be dispensed 

 with ; but if it has a long journey to perform, it sliould 

 be matted from bottom to top, and sewed witii strong, 

 tarred, spun yarn, about as tliick as a goose-quill. Boxes 

 are more secure for very long journeys ; they ai-e generally 

 made of ^|^-inch white pine timber. Boxes are now em- 

 ployed almost exclusively, as they nre found to be cheaper 

 and safer, and railroads charge one-half more freight on 

 strawed or matted bundles. If the trees are composed 

 of several varieties, they should be tied in small parcels 

 of four to six each, according to the size. The sides and 

 ends of the box should be well lined with straw, and the 

 roots bedded in moss and the tops in straw, to prevent 

 chafing. 



If the box be large, two rows of cleats are necessary — 

 one in tlie middle, and one in the top, to hold the trees in 

 their place, and to keep the box from spreading. When 

 the box is nailed up, it should be banded both at the ends 

 and middle with iron hoops, fastened with wrought nails. 



