PACKING AND TRANSPORTING SEEDS 641 



or shavings in a section of bamboo, and despatched by post. Palm 

 seeds and most fruit tree seeds are best packed with slightly 

 moistened sphagnum moss, in tins, or well-wrapped in oil-paper. 



Cuttings or Scions may often be safely sent by post if prepared 

 and packed in the following manner. They should be approxi- 

 mately 9 to 10 in. long and furnished with about 3 or more eyes 

 (buds) ; they must not be too slender, never under the size of a 

 lead pencil in thickness, but preferably a little larger than this in the 

 case of soft-wooded kinds. See that each cutting, etc., is not 

 affected with any insect-pest or fungus disease. About 3 cuttings 

 may be placed together and wrapped in slightly moistened sphagnum 

 moss and surrounded with oil-paper ; these may be placed in bundles 

 in a close-fitting tin tube and despatched. In the absence of 

 sphagnum, a slightly damped wrapper of lint or cotton will answer 

 the purpose. Closing up of the ends of the cuttings with sealing-wax 

 to prevent the evaporation of moisture, or fixing the ends in a 

 potato or other tuber, are both useful methods in an emergency, 

 but not to be preferred to the mode described above. 



Transport of bulbs or tubers. These are always best trans- 

 ported when the plants are in a dormant or resting state. In the 

 tropics, however, this is not usually practicable, as the plants may 

 be said to be seldom in that condition. In this case the bulbs or 

 tubers should be gradually dried until all the leaves have thoroughly 

 withered, when they should be cut away. The bulbs may then be 

 packed in dry sawdust or coir-dust for export. Small quantities 

 may thus be placed in ordinary biscuit boxes, and sent by Parcels 

 Post. If packed in a larger box for shipment, it is well to bore a 

 few ventilation holes in the sides of the box. 



SENDING FLOWERS BY TOST, ETC. 



The flowers should preferably be cut with a sharp knife, not 

 broken off ; cutting with scissors is apt to squeeze and close the 

 tubes of certain flower-stalks, thereby preventing the absorption of 

 moisture when placed in water. Flowers should be cut in the 

 early morning, when they are full of moisture ; do not sprinkle 

 water on them, and if wet shake them gently. In packing, the 

 box should be lined with glazed paper, moss or fresh leaves ; no 

 cotton-wool or other absorbent substance should be used as a 

 packing, the best material for the purpose being fresh leaves or 

 fern fronds. The flowers should be packed quite closely, for they 

 will shake down, and if loose the jolting will bruise them ; they 



