74 
Gardeners and Florists’ Annual for 19J8 
$ 
Some Suggestions for Shippers 
By H. D. Darlington, Flushing, L. I. 
T he shipping of plant stock, principally by express, is becoming 
more of a problem every }'ear to the average florist. Few of us 
can dispose of all our product in our immediate vicinity, or it 
may often be more profitable to ship to other sections. 
But if we are shipping or receiving stock by express, I think most 
of us will agree that there is room for considerable improvement. I 
have usually found the officials of the large express companies most 
courteous and sincerely trying to give us the best possible service. They 
are often ready with practical suggestions of value to the shipper. How 
often does one receive a shipment of excellently grown stock in a badly 
bruised condition, yet which has traveled less than 100 miles. Compare 
it with the average case of plants from abroad. The comparison makes 
one think very seriously. 
When an order of plants is moved into the packing shed, first see 
that all the stock is well watered, also that a duplicate itemized invoice 
is with the order. This is a help to the packer as to the size and number 
of plants in the order. One copy should be returned to the office prop- 
erly checked up to show that the order is completed, or the portion of 
it that is about to be shipped. The copy of the invoice which the packer 
holds should be fa.stened to one of the plants after it is tied with paper. 
If you are packing your plants standing, to be crated in, put the plant 
with the invoice in a prominent place in the crate. If it is a closed 
case and the plants are lying down, leave the plant with the invoice 
until the last, so it will be packed on top. One reason for this is that 
should the tag become lost, or the address obliterated, the express 
people can easily find from whom and to whom the shipment is made 
by opening the box. This often saves valuable time. 
Paper pots are a great help in shipping pot grown stock. They save 
in weight and are easily packed. Newspaper is as cheap and as prac- 
tical a material as one can get for wrapping plants, only don’t stint it, 
especially in cold weather, and see that your newspapers are all 
spread out before packing,, especially at holiday time. This spreading 
of the paper should be done by the cheapest labor you have. 
Some growers prefer to pack plants standing and crate-in the tops; 
others to lay them down in a closed box. Both methods are good, but 
whichever you adopt, use plenty of cleats and see that they are securely 
nailed. In cold weather make sure that the cases are well lined; it pays. 
After your case or crate is packed tack on your tag and put the 
tag on the end of your case, not on the top. Did you ever notice an 
expressman loading a wagon or truck? As he receives the boxes, es- 
pecially if they are closed cases, they are shoved one on top of the 
other as high as he can get them. This is repeated at the express car, 
and oftentimes before your goods leave the home town, many of the 
tags are badly torn. This can often be avoided by putting the tag on 
the end. It is necessary in New York State to mark plainly on the 
tag the value of the goods. With the tag should go the Government 
