This fact should be carefully kept in mind by those residing long
distances from express offices, or the points from which they wish to
order their plants. Packages weighing four pounds and less can be sent
by mail and received with our letters, and by a little inquiry and
calculation it may be found the cheapest and most convenient way of
obtaining them. I find no difficulty in mailing all the small fruit
plants to every part of the continent.

The greater part of the counting and packing of plants should be done
in a cellar, or some place of low, even temperature, in order to
prevent the little fibrous roots, on which the future growth so
greatly depends, from becoming shrivelled. The best part of the roots
are extremely sensitive to sunlight or frost, and, worse than all, to
a cold, dry wind. Therefore, have the plants gathered up as fast as
they are dug and carried to a damp, cool room, where the temperature
varies but little. From such a place they can be packed and shipped
with the leisure that insures careful work.

After having obtained good, genuine plants to start with, we can
greatly improve our stock by a system of careful selection. This is a
truth of great importance, but so obvious that we need not dwell long
upon it. Let me illustrate what I mean by the course I propose to
enter upon during the coming season. In our beds of each variety there
will be a few plants that, for some reason, will surpass all the
others in vigor, productiveness, and especially in the manifestation
of the peculiar and distinguishing traits of the variety. I shall
carefully mark such plants, remove all others from their vicinity, and
propagate from them. Thus, in the course of two or three years, I
shall renew my entire stock of standard varieties from the very best
and most characteristic specimens of each kind. From this improved