194 
Gardeners and Florists’ Annual for 1918 
over the excavation so as to bridge without obstructing the entrance 
to the jar. The animal, in coming along the tunnel, falls into the jar 
and cannot climb out. Success depends much on the skill in placing 
the trap. Repeated leveling of mole ridges on a lawn with a roller 
tends not only to discourage the animals from making further incur- 
sions, but prevents the soil from drying out and thus injuring grass 
roots. Farmers’ Bulletin 583, previously referred to, gives considerable 
information concerning the mole, its habits and methods of control. 
Packing Plants. — In the case of flowering plants to be shipped 
to the retail florist, select stock that is at least 20 per cent, further 
retarded than stock that could be offered for sale on the home market. 
No plant should be packed for shipment that is in any degree dry. In the 
Spring, Summer and early Autumn, stock may be watered up to the 
time of packing and shipped successfully, but during the cold weather 
a very safe rule is to water all stock thoroughly the night before. In 
tbe case of palms, ferns and other green plants, first gather in the leaves 
and tie with some soft material, but do not injure or crush them. 
Flowering plants should be drawn in and tied by the woody part, and 
in the case of a Lilac or any other large or delicate flowering plants, 
care should be taken to have each flower covered with soft tissue or 
cotton. On a small flowering plant such as an Azalea, the head may be 
drawn in as a whole, and tied with a piece of twisted tissue. For the 
first wrapping next the plant, take two or three sheets of paper and 
one of tissue, keeping the tissue next to the plant to keep the foliage 
or flower from coming into direct contact with the rough paper. Start 
the wrapping of the plant at the bottom and work upward. Let your 
first wrapping cover the pot and be doubled under completely, taking 
in the pot. Always tie the bottom of the top sheet and the top of the 
next together with the same twine. Always be sure that in tying the 
paper around the top of the plant, enough room is left to insure the top 
not being pinched. The plant should be enveloped in three sheets of 
newspaper which should be added to in accordance with the weather. 
The selection of the crate is very important. Select a light strong case, 
and before packing go over it and see if it needs reinforcing at any 
point. Always select a case that will conveniently carry the stock. No 
buyer cares to pay expressage on wood and packing material for ten 
plants w'here only one is shipped. Give your crate a lining of news- 
paper, beginning at one end and going around, letting each set of sheets 
overlap the other and cover up the bottom as well. Next place in the 
bottom of the crate a sufficient amount of straw, hay or other pack- 
ing material to form a perfect cushion. To insure against breaking 
them, begin to pack, keeping the weight distributed evenly over the 
crate; and at aU times have sufficient material between each pot and 
the sides of the crate to take up the shock of handUng. After your 
plants are all in the crate and packed in such a manner that they can- 
not move or shift, draw in all the top together and tie so that they 
cannot shift. Draw up the newspaper from the bottom of the crate 
and give the whole top an extra wrapping if the weather is cold enough 
to justify. Always crate your plants with a square top, as the ex- 
press rates are lower for a crate on which another may be placed in 
travel. Leave sufficient space for the expressman to see that the crate 
must not be dumped upsidedown, and last but not least, when the crate 
