Plant Material for Long-Distance Shipment 9 



obtained. This is true of material coming from remote parts of 

 China, Bulbs and roots going forward by parcel post pack best in 

 small wooden or tin boxes, using about double the quantity of pack- 

 ing material by bulk as the space occupied by the bulbs. Rhizomes 

 of bamboo and similar j^lants should be collected at the time when the 

 l^lants are more or less dormant. Rhizomes half an inch in diameter 

 and from 10 to 15 inches long, containing two or three good dormant 

 eyes, are best for the purpose. Such material may be packed by the 

 wet-burlap method, tying the bundles firmly and then sewing them 

 in cotton cloth. Corrugated paper makes a good protective covering 

 before putting on the cloth. 



CUTTINGS, SCIONS, AND BUDS OF SOFT-WOODED PLANTS 



Many soft-wooded plants, including the avocado, orange, lemon, 

 grapefruit, mango, and lychee, although evergreens, are propagated by 

 buds. (See Pis. IV and V.) Such plants are also frequently propa- 

 gated by grafts. Material of tliis kind is rather difficult to ship and 

 ijiust be selected and jDacked very carefully. The wood of the mango 

 and avocado should be well ripened but not too old. Much care 

 sliould be exercised in selecting wood of these plants to avoid any- 

 thing in the nature of insect infestation. Material for propagation 

 had best be cut in lengths of 8 to 10 inches. The leaves should be 

 carefully trimmed off. lea^dng spurred petioles as shown in Plate V. 

 If the cutting is too soft, the buds are liable to wither and fail to 

 push. On the other hand, if the wood is too old the buds may be 

 slow in pushing, and in many instances they may not push at all. 

 The best wood of mangos and avocados comes from branches 5 

 or 6 months old. Cuttings of lychee and longan are sometimes 

 -hij^ped. but as a rule it is difficult to get them to grow. Even when 

 liandled with great care, the buds refuse to push. Here, again, 

 the wet-burlap method of packing is advised. A dozen good bud 

 sticks of the orange, gi^apefruit, avocado, or mango will make 

 a good shipping bundle, using tin tubes or tin or wooden boxes, 

 as already described. (See PI. VI.) Sew the packages in cotton 

 cloth, as suggested for other materials. It is sometimes desirable 

 to ship small lots of bud wood, such as here described. Each of 

 these lots may be packed by the wet-burlap method and the several 

 bundles assembled into a large one, using first a covering of strong 

 paper, preferably corrugated board, and finally a cotton covering 

 sewed on. The illustrations (PL I) will make tliis method clear. 



ROOTED PLANTS 



Small rooted plants, especially deciduous ones, without soil on 

 their roots may be shipped without difficulty when dormant (see 

 PI. VII). They should be packed in sphagnum moss, each lot or 

 unit packet being wrapped in newspapers and oiled paper. These 

 unit 2:)ackets may be assembled in bundles or bales and covered with 

 burlap sewed on. If there are a considerable number of smaller unit 

 packets they may be packed in a strong box, using plenty of moss to 

 keep the material in good condition. Getting the moss of just the 

 right wetness is always a prol)lem. The experienced packer can tell 

 by the ** feel " of tlie moss when it is right. He can not convey this 



