10 Department Circular 323, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



idea of " feel '* to the inexperienced. Starting with dry moss it re- 

 quires about a pint and a half of water to wet properly each pound 

 of moss. The best way to wet the moss is to put it in*^a can or box 

 and then sprinkle hot water on it. Put a tight lid on the receptacle 

 and let the moss stand in it overnight. 



It is hmdvisahle without special in.st nut ions to attempt to ship 

 2)lants ivith soil on the roots. Such instructions will necessarily vary 

 with the kind of plants to be shipped and the needs of the occasion. 

 Balled plants with a lot of soil about the roots or loose in so-called 

 Wardian cases are always sources of much danger. The Wardian 

 case, a sort of small portable greenhouse, has probably been the 

 means of scattering more dangerous insects, nematodes, and other 

 pests over the earth than almost any other form of carrier; hence 

 its use is not advised except under special instructions. 



SPHAGNUM-MOSS METHOD OF GROWING PLANTS FOR SHIPMENT 



Many of tlie dangers and difficulties of transporting small pot- 

 grown plants may be overcome by a method which has been fol- 

 lowed for a number of 3'ears. Ordinar}' sphagnum moss, such as is 

 commonly used for packing, is made to serve the place of soil. No 

 fertilizer whatever is added to the moss. Many kinds of j^lants 

 thrive in this material, and when its cleanliness, lightness, and the ease 

 with which such phmts are packed and shipped are considered, the 

 small extra labor involved in potting becomes negligible. A simple 

 and convenient crate for shipping plants grown in sphagnum moss 

 is shown in Plates YIII and IX. A comparison of the weights of 

 moss and soil is of interest in this connection (see Plate X). A 

 2-inch pot of soil weighs approximately 3 ounces; 3-inch pot, 9 

 ounces; 4-inch pot, 1 pound 2 ounces; 6-inch pot, 3 pounds 12 ounces. 

 Moss in the same sized pots weighs j^er 2-inch pot, 1 ounce; 3-inch 

 2)ot, 2 ounces; 1-inch pot, 4 ounces; and 6-inch pot, 12 ounces. 



The greatest factor in favor of the moss, however, is its freedom 

 from insects and diseases. Inasmuch as no plants with balls of soil 

 on the roots are allowed to come into the United States, owing to 

 the risk of introducing dangerous crop pests, foreign growers may 

 well turn their attention to the production of plants in moss, where 

 this material is available. 



SPECIAL SHIPPING DIRECTIONS 



Seeds and plants may be shipped, if properly packed, by sample 

 post, parcel post, express, or freight. For shipping by sample post or 

 parcel post the unit packets already described should be assembled 

 into proper-sized packages. A sample-post package must not weigh 

 over 12 ounces (350 grams) and should not measure more than 12 by 

 8 by 4 inches (30 by 20 by 10 centimeters). The parcels may be 

 covered with strong' cotton cloth, sewed on as already described. 



It will he lest to lorite the address on the package rather thmi on 

 a tag ichich mast he tied on icith string or wire. In the event that 

 tags are used., sew them on the package. 



Parcel-post packages may be put up in the same way. The limit of 

 weight for parcel-post shipment is 11 pounds, and the allowable di- 



