340 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENINa. 



their position after the boxes are handed over to the 

 tender mercies of a railway company, the contents 

 suffer to an extent that greatly depreciates their 

 value. Some growers use baskets that will hold from 

 eighteen to twenty pounds each, and four of these, 

 v/hen packed in a case of suitable size with handles 



for general packing is dry, soft moss, of which a 

 large sufjply should be obtained when the weather is 

 fine, thoroughly dried, and beaten with sticks to 

 destroy the harshness and free it from dust. Having 

 the boxes and moss at hand, proceed by placing a 

 layer an inch or more thick evenly over the bottom 



at each end, make up a weight that protects them 

 from being turned over by the railway porters. For 

 private growers, boxes of uniform size that will hold 

 from eighteen to twenty pounds each are^ best ; 

 indeed, boxes that will just hold the quantity 

 required are preferable to baskets, as they do not so 

 readily give way to pressure. These should be made 

 of half-inch deal, twenty-four inches long, fourteen 

 inches wide, and six inches deep. The best material 



of the box, line the box, sides, ends, and bottom, 

 with a double thickness of cap paper and a single 

 thickness of silver paper, allowing one half of the 

 sheets to hang over the sides for turning over when 

 the packing is finished. Weigh the box, carry it to 

 the vinery, placing it in a slanting position by 

 raising one end to an angle of 45°. Commence 

 packing by placing good bunches in each of the 

 lower corners, keeping the shoulders well up to the 



