i2o THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



sale the object must be to reduce evaporation to the 

 lowest point, and this can only be ensured by employing 

 well-made boxes with closely fitting lids. This principle 

 is equally applicable if the boxes be of metal, wood, or 

 card-board, but it must be considered in conjunction 

 with the advice previously given to cut all flowers under 

 the best possible conditions. When flowers are bunched 

 with their own foliage this provides a means of ensuring 

 freshness in the contents of the box, as the leaves furnish 

 some moisture, while at the same time protecting the 

 blooms. 



The exclusion of dust is an essential in packages of 

 flowers. The blooms are always more or less damp at 

 the time, and some exude a viscid substance in addition, 

 so that every particle of dust which alights upon the 

 petals will adhere to and disfigure them. This must be 

 avoided by every care it is possible to take in the work 

 of packing) and providing for their safe carriage. To 

 the same end it is needful in the case of flowers with 

 large anthers that shed their pollen quickly and profusely, 

 to remove the anthers before packing, or indeed at the 

 time of gathering. This attention is particularly 

 requisite with the Lilies and white flowers generally, 

 that have large, single, or bell-shaped corollas. 



In the markets the majority of flowers are sold from 

 the boxes as received, therefore it must be borne in mind 

 that the flowers should be faced to the top. Thus when 

 the lid is removed the nature of the contents can be at 

 once seen without pulling them about and injuring them 

 in the process. Not only should each box contain but 

 one sort or kind of flower, but the quality must be 

 uniform throughout ; it is a mistake fatal to any good 

 business to place a few extra fine bunches at the top to 

 conceal inferior blooms below. 



Packing Plants. — Millions of seedling plants or rooted 

 cuttings for spring and summer bedding are raised and sold 



