76 AN AUSTRALIAN STUDY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY. 
The bundles are packed immediately before they have to be despatched. 
The bunches are thrown into the wagon and conveyed to the Packing Machine. 
This really consists of a box mounted on Jegs, and having one hinged side. 
Two 6-ft. lengths of yarn placed 1 ft. apart, and having stapled to them 
at 18 in. distance, two wooden cleats, are placed at the bottom of the Packing 
Box and hung over both sides. A strip of burlap 6 ft. by 21 in. follows, 
and finally a sheet of wrapping-paper. The bunches of plants, after a moderate 
root pruning, are then laid in the packer with the roots inwards, in two 
layers, which are well packed by wet shingle tow. When the container is 
full, the ends of the burlap and paper are drawn together at the top; and 
wrapped around a stick 1 in. by 2 in. by 2 ft., whose ends protrude about 
2 in. beyond the edge of the burlap. A 16-in. “wrench” is applied to these 
ends, and the stick is turned so as to fold the burlap over it, and tighten it as 
much as desired. A catch on the packer holds the wrench in position, while 
the yarn is tied tighter round the bundle, which is then ready for shipment. 
The hinged side of the packer is then let down, and the bundle taken out. 
An average bundle weighs 90 lb., and contains 4,000 plants. The bundles 
are easier to handle than wooden boxes, and much faster to pack. The plants 
do not dry out or heat. 
Each bundle is stencilled to show the number of trees, species, and age 
class. 
Formerly, boxes.were used. The Packing Machine and the bundle method 
are the invention of the Nursery. The cost of packing has been reduced 
thereby from 34d. to $d. per 1,000 plants. 
The age of transplant stock when shipped for planting out is as follows :— 
Pinus ponderosa—|1—2 (3 years, being 1 year seedling and 2 year 
transplant). 
Pinus monticola—1 and 2—2. 
Pinus strobus—1 and 2—2. 
Picca engelmanni—2—2. 
Lariz occidentalis—2—2. 
Thuja plocata—2—2. 
The methods of sowing are of interest. All coniferous seed is sown broad- 
cast in the beds, which are £ ft. by 48 ft. with 2 ft. paths. A sufficient 
quantity of seed for 48 square feet is placed in pails set 12 ft. apart in the 
rows. The sower walks down one side and up the other, from pail to pail. of 
the row, casting the seed from the path to the centre in quarter circular 
sweeps. 
The seed is covered with river sand. The depth of the sand cover has 
been proved to be of vital importance. For White Pine a quarter inch is the 
best, and one pound of seed with this depth of cover is as good as two pounds 
at half an inch. : 
The sand is distributed with a shovel, levelled off with a straight-edged 
board, and packed with a water-weighted roller. 
I was shown a machine which is now being developed for the purpose 
of spreading an even depth of sand and rolling it at the same time. It con- 
sisted of a carrier from which the sand poured on to a travelling canvas 
éperated by cogs from the roller wheels. It is a machine which should exercise 
an important influence on nursery practice. : 
