HOW TO PACK CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 71 



have packed them to travel to the Continent, and even as 

 far as America ! The last-mentioned were despatched from 

 our nurseries on a Friday, and left Liverpool on the Satur- 

 day; and the following Saturday afternoon they were ex- 

 hibited in a great show in New York. I was assured 

 that when displayed they looked as fresh as if they had 

 been packed only the day before. On another occasion 

 some of my flowers were exhibited after being packed 

 eleven days. 



The best method of packing flowers which are intended 

 to travel a llong distance may be briefly described as 

 follows : 



When the flowers are quite dry, viz., when there is no 

 dampness upon them, take each one and hold it bloom 

 downwards. If you are obliged to pack unassisted, hold 

 the stem between your teeth. Then take a sheet of tissue 

 paper, tear it nearly in half, and put the paper over the 

 flower. In doing this draw all the petals together just 

 close enough that they will not move. Then twist the 

 paper lightly over the top of the bloom, and lay the flower 

 gently in the box so that it cannot move. I may say that 

 when the papering operation is finished, and before laying 

 it in the box, I always sharpen the stem slightly, taking 

 oft" all knots, and slip it into one of my patent water 

 tubes. This supplies sufficient water to keep the flowers 

 fresh for a long journey. 



