THE REGAL LILY je 17 
SHIPPING THE BULBS 
it is more than likely that the transportation of domestic-grown 
bulbs of this and other lilies will be done mostly by express. It will 
therefore be necessary to simplify and lghten the pack as much as 
possible. This will not be difficult to do for a maximum of a week’s 
journey in cool weather, for the stocks will usually be dug in 
October. : 
The bulbs will carry nicely if they are wrapped individually or in 
twos or threes, in a sort of butcher’s package in news or other paper, 
and packed tightly in boxes holding a bushel or more. If there is 
danger of drying out too much, a little barely moist sphagnum may 
be added thinly between the different layers of packages. 
If shipping is done by freight it will be necessary to pack in tight 
boxes in dry earth, as is now done with imported lily bulbs of various 
species. It is probabie, however, that little economy will be effected 
in freight over express shipments when the added weight of the 
packing soil is paid for. 
Whenever a large quantity of small bulbs is to be shipped, only a 
slight modification of the first method of packing is necessary. The 
bulbs may be wrapped in the same way, in handfuls or small quanti- 
ties, may be put into small paper bags and these packed in boxes 
either with or without the moist sphagnum between the packages. 
In the Puget Sound region an abundant supply of peat of excellent 
quality for packing purposes is to be had to lighten the pack, if it is 
desired to simulate the handling of the imported bulbs. Of course, 
. imported peat can be used, as it is now available at a reasonable price 
nearly everywhere, but it is felt that even this small additional 
expense is not necessary. 
TO CUT OR NOT TO CUT THE ROOTS 
To the forcer who is accustomed to the trim, neat, imported 
Japanese lilies the copious ragged mass of roots adhering to the bulbs 
may not appeal; but experience seems to indicate that, although a 
good performance is to be expected from bulbs with the roots cut 
close, there is an advantage in preserving the roots when this is 
practicable. The value of the roots, however, will depend upon 
whether they can be kept and gotten into their new growing quarters 
alive and in shape to function. If badly dried out or bruised and 
molded in spots they had better be cut off; but if reset in good con- 
dition, even if somewhat withered, they will reestablish from ad- 
ventitious buds which strike out several inches from the bulb and 
frequently the entire root will live and reestablish itself. This 
applies particularly to outdoor planting. When, as is so often the 
case, the large mass of roots if retained must be wadded into the 
pots, it is better to cut them back to 2 or 3 inches in length. The 
roots reestablish much more readily under field conditions than in 
pots in the greenhouse. 
Of course, the expense of handling must be considered in this 
matter. The mass of roots from the base of the bulbs is bulky 
and heavy if preserved in a way to function and be of any value. 
The added weight in shipping and the added difficulty in handling 
