102 PACKING AND MARKETING 



papers may be used as the outer lining, and blue or white 

 tissue paper next to the wax paper upon which the flowers 

 are laid in close rows; one row one way until the box is 

 half filled, the other rows in the opposite direction. 



Pack fairly tight, so that the blooms cannot move about, 

 and remember that large Spencers are easily bruised. When 

 the flowers have to travel several hundred miles, or remain 

 packed from fourteen to twenty hours, especially in dry or 

 warm weather, it is well to place a narrow strip of damp 

 cotton across the base of the stem of each flower. Some 

 varieties travel better than others, and for long distance 

 shipping these are invaluable and have to be discovered. 

 Layers of wax paper must be put between each stratum of 

 flowers. 



John C. Grace, president of the Retail Florists' Asso- 

 ciation of Philadelphia, writes in regard to packing and 

 shipping as follows: 



" First, in bunching the flowers, arrange 25 in a flat 

 or three quarter bunch: this will protect the flowers from 

 bruising and be a help in packing them. Use a flat box 

 that will hold one or two layers of bunches; place a roll of 

 newspaper in the box so the bunches will rest in a partly 

 upright position; wrap each bunch of Sweet Peas in wax 

 paper, and after each row of bunches place a roll of news- 

 paper till the box is filled. 1 believe this method would 

 keep them from bruising and also from overheating in 

 warm weather. I have often seen large boxes and baskets 

 of Sweet Peas arriving at the commission houses in a use- 

 less condition, owing to the large number of bunches there- 

 in, and the warm weather. One advantage of the half or 

 three-quarter bunch is that it makes a much larger showing 

 for the money, and the flowers would not bruise. I believe 

 this method is worth a trial." 



