Pachira 



( 152 ) 



Packing 



PACHIRA (syn. CABOLINEA). 



A genus of stove trees (ord. Malvaceae) with 

 petals 6" to 12" long, palmate leaves, and long, 

 finger-like leaflets, not often seen in cultivation. 

 Propagation, by cuttings of mature shoots in a 

 propagating case. Soil, good fibrous loam, with a 

 little sand. 



Principal Species : 



alba, 20', Jy., wh. insignis, 20', red. 



aquatica, 30', red, yel., macroearpa, 3u',red, yel., 



grn. (./. C'arolmea gru. 



priuceps). minor, 20', Jy., red, yel., 



grn. 



PACHYNEMA. 



Half-hardy herbs or sub-shrubs (ord. Dilleni- 

 acese), with Kush-like or flattened, erect branches, 

 and leaves reduced to scales. Propagation, by 

 imported seeds ; also by cuttings in gentle heat. 

 Soil, fibrous loam and peat, with sand. 



Principal Species : 



complanatum, yel. 



PACHYPHYLLUM. 



Epiphytal herbs (ord. Orchidacese), with short, 

 ascending, densely leafy racemes. Propagation, 

 by cuttings in sandy loam and crocks, or finely 

 broken bricks. A similar soil will answer for 

 established plants. 



Principal Species : 



procmnbens, My., grn., bl. 



PACHYPODIUM. 



Greenhouse evergreen shrubs (ord. Apocynaceje), 

 often with fleshy, thickened stems, and bearing 

 rosy white flowers at the apex of the branches. 

 Propagation, by cuttings, allowing the cut ends to 

 become dry before insertion in sand; also by 

 division of the fleshy rootstock. Soil, light loam, 

 with plenty of sand and some finely broken bricks. 

 Little water is required in winter. 



Principal Species : 



Saundersii, 1'. (st/ns. succulentum and 



tomentosum, 1', sum. tuberosum). 



PACHYRHIZUS. 



Tall, twining stove herbs (ord. LeguminosEe), 

 with the habit of the Scarlet Runner. Propaga- 

 tion, by seeds ; also by tubers, and by cuttings of 

 lateral shoots in sand, under a bell-glass, in heat. 

 Soil, fibrous loam with a third of leaf mould, and 

 plenty of sand. 



Principal Species : 



angulatus, Jy., vio. pur. tuberosus, Jy., Aug. 

 thunbergianus (now Pue- 



raria thunbergiana). 



PACHYSANDRA. 



Hardy, perennial herbs (ord. Enphorbiacese), with 

 yellowish flowers of no great beauty, procumbent 

 stems, and ascending branches. Propagation, by 

 division, or by suckers in spring as growth is com- 

 mencing. Soil, ordinary garden. 



Principal Species : 

 coriacea (now Sarcococca procumbens, 6", Ap., br. 



pruniformis var.). terminalis, Ivs. with wh. 



edges. 



Pac/iistima (sec Pachygtima). 



Pachychilus (see Pachystoma). 



Pai'liylojthvs (see, (Enothera). 



PaeJiy pli ytv m (see Cotyledon). 



Pacli ystiff ma (of Hooker, see Peltostlyma). 



PACHYSTIMA (sym. PACIUSTIGMA of 

 Meissner, and PACHISTIMA of Raffinesque). 



Hardy shrubs (ord. Celastrinese), with evergreen 

 foliage and small axillary flowers. Propagation, 

 by cuttings of half-mature shoots under a frame, 

 in pots of sandy soil. Any friable, well-drained 

 garden soil will suit them. 



Only Species : 



Canbyi, 4", greenish. wh. (..'/. Myginda 



Myrsiuites, 1' to 2', Je., myrtifolia). 



PACHYSTOMA. 



Stove terrestrial Orchids (ord. Orchidacese), with 

 erect, more or less leafless stems, and racemes of 

 drooping flowers. Propagation, by division. Soil, 

 fibrous loam, with a little peat and sand. 



Principal Species : 

 speciosum, 6", Jan., yel. thomsoniaiium, G" to 8", 



(now Ipsea speciosa). wh., pur. 



PACKING. 



Most gardeners, whether amateur or professional, 

 have occasion to pack fruits, flowers, vegetables, or 

 plants, and it is necessary to be conversant with 

 the methods by which these can be so packed that 

 they may arrive in good condition after a journey, 

 either by rail or post. 



Fruits. Grapes sent from one person to another 

 for private consumption should be packed in boxes 

 sufficiently strong to resist pressure from other 

 packages, which may be stood upon them, and of a 

 size little more than sufficient to hold the quantity. 

 Cover the bottom of the box with cotton wool or 

 wood wool, the latter being preferable on account 

 of its elasticity. It consists of the fine shavings of 

 wood, the best being made from Willow or Poplar, 

 as it is not liable to taint the fruit like resinous 

 Pine wood wool. Dry moss has also been used. 

 Over the padding place a couple of sheets or 

 folds of tissue paper, with the ends hanging over 

 the sides, so as to cover the Grapes when the box 

 is full. Put in as many bunches as will fill the 

 box, keeping the stalks uppermost. Put the paper 

 over, and if there are any hollows place some pack- 

 ing material into the same, so as to prevent shifting 

 on the journey, the great object being to preserve 

 the " bloom." If possible, the points of the bunches 

 should be tied down. Choice Peaches and Necta- 

 rines should be packed in shallow boxes to hold one 

 layer, over wood wool and with tissue paper for 

 packing. Each fruit should have a strip of paper 

 wound round it, so as to keep it from rubbing its 

 neighbour. The tops of the fruits should be exposed 

 to view when the lid of the box and the covering 

 of tissue paper have been removed. Figs may be 

 packed in Vine leaves, and one layer deep, in 

 shallow boxes. Strawberries may be packed in 

 their own leaves, slightly withered, one layer deep 

 in shallow boxes. The above soft fruits should 

 be gathered before they are dead ripe. Apricots, 

 Plums, and Cherries travel well if packed closely in 

 shallow boxes. 



Flowers. Most flowers intended for travelling 

 by post or rail should be cut in the morning, before 

 the sun has made them limp, and placed in water 

 for a few hours before packing. Deal or tin boxes 

 of no great depth are best for maintaining the fresh- 

 ness of the flowers. Pack the flowers closely in 

 layers without crushing. All flowers should be cut 

 in the younger stages, even if not fully developed, 

 as they last longer after completing their journey. 

 Irises should be cut and packed just before the buds 



