8 BULLETIN 962, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



and extending beyond the sphagnum ribbon. They may be spread 

 three or four or more deep, also in a ribbon, on the packing mate- 

 rial. Wlien all the seedling plants have been arranged and covered 

 with a similar layer of sphagnum, the whole may be rolled up tight, 

 the paper being tightlj^ folded about the bottom and loosely folded 

 around the top. The package should then be tied and packed in a 

 strong container, so that it can not move. (Fig. 4.) Thus handled, 

 the seedlings can be transported cheaply to any part of the country. 



TRANSFER TO THE FIELD. 



If the seed of the Easter liW is sown about the 1st of January and 

 potted in early March the plants will be ready to go into the open 



Fig. 4. — Easter lily seeclling« iu secoud leaf, showing the method of packing adopted 



for shipment by mail. 



ground in late April or early May, or when they will be safe from 

 any inclement weather. They are then knocked out of the pots and 

 planted without disturbing the ball of earth. There seems to be no 

 checking of growth, the plants taking hold of the ground with no 

 loss of time. 



When handled as stated, the 2-inch pots are well filled with roots 

 by the time the plants go into the field. It is therefore possible to 

 knock the plants out and carry them to the field in flats, from which 

 they are set with a trowel. 



