96 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



able to separate the articles packed from the wool by 

 sheets of tissue paper. Apart from the defect mentioned 

 it is very absorbent of moisture, and if loosened out the 

 fibres readily adhere to anything with which they may 

 be in direct contact. It is obtainable in two qualities, 

 the grey, which is the cheaper and answers the same 

 purpose but is not so pleasing in appearence ; and the 

 white or bleached, which is in more request where 

 cotton wool is in use for any purpose. The sheets are 

 usually 1 8 inches wide, and are sold by the dozen 

 yards. 



Paper-shavings, shredded paper, and similar produc- 

 tions are used as packing materials to a limited extent, 

 but they are chiefly employed in different colours for 

 ornamental effect, and if a little taste is brought to bear 

 upon the matter they are valuable aids to the sale of 

 small boxes of fruits that are placed direct in the 

 fruiterers' windows. The same remark applies to 

 narrow margins of loose paper for small boxes, like 

 those containing early cherries, apricots, etc., from Con- 

 tinental growers. But as reliable packing materials all 

 paper products alone are not so satisfactory as wood- 

 wool. 



Moss in a dried and dyed state is chiefly used for 

 ornament ; it is not an efficient packing material for most 

 fruits, it is expensive, and the tinted sorts have an 

 artificial appearance. Fresh, green, clean moss can be 

 employed for some choice flowers to good purpose, but 

 its principal use is for packing small plants turned out 

 of their pots. When the soil is shaken from the roots 

 to save cost in carriage damp moss is the best substance 

 that can be had to prevent the plants suffering from 

 evaporation in transit. This is especially the case as 

 regards short journeys by post or train, for long 

 distances, as with exported or imported plants it is 

 found risky to enclose a quantity of damp moss. Under 



