IS8 MANAGEMENT OF NURSERIES. 



bundle together by stout pulling by hand; but the mode 

 here shown, by the use of a windlass, is not only many times 

 more expeditious but much better — as it was formerly almost 

 impossible to bind on the straw in so firm and secure a man- 

 ner as to withstand all the thumps and rough-and-tumble 

 handling of modern railway hands without displacement. 



The following dimensions may be useful to those who wish 

 to construct this packing machinery; windlass three feet high 

 to top; posts fifteen inches apart inside; cylinder four inches 

 in diameter; rope about eighteen feet long. The truck is 

 about two feet wide between the wheels, eight feet long ; the 

 axles six feet apart ; wheels seven inches in diameter. 



When trees are always boxed, they may be secured advan- 

 tageously in small bundles by this mode for placing in the 

 boxes. 



Convenient dimensions for boxes, where large quantities are 

 to be packed, are two and a half feet square and nine feet 

 long. They should be made of light and strong boards, and 

 if sound half an inch in thickness will answer. Four series 

 of battens will be necessary for the length — two at the ends, 

 and the others at intervals of three feet between. Good bat- 

 tens are made of elm or other wood of equal hardness and 

 toughness, which may be sawed for this purpose into strips 

 two and a half inches wide and an inch and a fourth in thick- 

 ness. When the boards are well nailed to these battens, the 

 whole forms a stout box. When closely and solidly packed 

 the lid is nailed on, and iron hoops are nailed on the outside 

 against every batten, and extending around the box. The 

 direction is then written distinctly with a mixture of lamp- 

 black and turpentine, or of lamp-black and rock-oil. The 

 following materials should be procured beforehand for pack- 

 ing : Boxes, with iron straps or hoops for the corners ; moss, 

 for the roots ; straw, for the tops ; labels, for designating the 

 sorts; flag, oziers, or rye-straw, for tying bunches; large 

 labels of cloth, parchment, or wood, for designating bunches; 

 lamp-black and turpentine or rock-oil, and brush for marking 

 boxes. If the trees are to be packed in bales or bundles, pro- 

 vide long straight rye or other straw, baling-cord, gunny- 

 cloth or Russian mats, sewing-twine, large packing-needles, 

 directing-labels, white-lead paint, and soft pencil. 



