GROWING FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES 117 



box is covered, then nail strips across the top, 

 leaving spaces from one to two inches be- 

 tween the strips. If this work is done prop- 

 erly, even if the box be turned upside down, 

 the plants will remain undisturbed. When 

 the plants must be a long time in transit, 

 the best plan for packing is to use a shallow 

 box having strong cleats nailed in each 

 corner a few inches higher than the plants. 

 Nail a strip to the top of the cleats at the 

 ends of the box, then pack the plants as 

 before, and nail strips from the two end 

 strips on top, leaving spaces between. This 

 will leave the plants open at the sides and 

 on top, allowing a free circulation of air 

 about them. It may be advisable to nail 

 a strip to the cleats at each side as a 

 protection. 



SHIPPING BY MAIL 



In preparing plants for shipment by mail 

 they must be protected from cold as thor- 

 oughly as when shipping by express, but 

 the boxes will necessarily be quite small, and 

 should be made of thin, light material. The 

 soil should be carefully washed from the 

 roots of the plants and the roots have a 



