86 



Success with Small Fruits. 



save all the roots, shake these clean of earth, straighten them out, and tie 

 the plants into bundles of fifty. Pack in boxes, with the roots down in 

 moss and the tops exposed to the air. Do not press them in too tightly or 

 make them too wet, or else the plants become heated a process which 

 speedily robs them of all vitality. In cool seasons, and when the distance 

 is not too great, plants can be shipped in barrels thickly perforated with 

 holes. The tops should be toward the sides and the roots in the center, 

 down through which there should be a circulation of air. In every case, 



envelop the roots in damp moss 

 or leaves damp, but not wet. 

 Plants can be sent by mail at the 

 rate of one cent per ounce, and 

 those obtained in this way rarely 

 fail in doing well. 



This fact should be carefully 

 kept in mind by those residing 

 long distances from express 

 offices, or the points from which 

 they wish to order their plants. 

 Packages weighing four pounds 

 and less can be sent by mail and 

 received with our letters, and by 

 a little inquiry and calculation it 

 may be found the cheapest and 

 most convenient way of obtaining 

 them. I find no difficulty in 

 mailing all the small fruit plants to every part of the continent 



The greater part of the counting and packing of plants should be done 

 in a cellar, or some place of low, even temperature, in order to prevent the 

 little fibrous roots, on which the future growth so greatly depends, from 

 becoming shriveled. The best part of the roots are extremely sensitive to 

 sunlight or frost, and, worse than all, to a cold, dry wind. Therefore, have 

 the plants gathered up as fast as they are dug and carried to a damp, cool 

 room, where the temperature varies but little. From such a place they 

 can be packed and shipped with the leisure that insures careful work. 



After having obtained good genuine plants to start with, we can 

 greatly improve our stock by a system of careful selection. This is a 

 truth of great importance, but so obvious that we need not dwell long 

 upon it Let me illustrate what I mean by the course I propose to enter 

 upon during the coming season. In our beds of each variety there will be 



Counting and Mailing Plants. 



