WINTER STORAGE OF TREES AND PLANTS. 413 



WINTER STORAGE OF TREES AND PLANTS. 



TIIOS. E. CASIIMAN, OWATONNA. 



Your secretary having requested me to read a paper on 

 "Winter Storage of Trees and. Plants." I will respond by giving 

 you the methods pursued by the nursery firm in which I am in- 

 terested. 



In order that trees and plants of marketable size may be 

 kept ,in prime condition through the winter months, it is neces- 

 sary that a frost-proof building be used, and not only frost- 

 proof but well ventilated ; in fact, the building should be so con- 

 structed that the temperature of the interior may be kept as 

 near the freezing point as possible and yet not freeze. To ac- 

 complish this end in Minnesota the walls of the building must 

 be constructed of stone, brick or concrete heavy enough to ad- 

 mit of at least three air spaces, especially if built on top of the 

 ground. The roof should be made equally warm by using 

 several thicknesses of matched fencing, deadening felt and saw- 

 dust, with two to three air spaces. Material that will keep out 

 the cold should be used to turn water, for instance. Carey roofing 

 or tar and gravel. 



Sufficient ventilation should be provided by means of flues 

 built in the walls and extending up above the roof. The open- 

 ings can be covered with tin caps or left open, as may be neces- 

 sary to perfect the ventilation. It is also necessary to have ven- 

 tilators in the roof, at least every thirty feet. This can be ac- 

 complished by building cupolas over openings made in the roof, 

 these cupolas to have windows hung on hinges and controlled 

 by means of ropes hung over pulleys, the ends of the ropes being 

 fastened to hooks inside the building. If these ventilators are 

 properly handled, the temperature can be kept quite even, and 

 the gathering of a large amount of moisture can be prevented, 

 too much of which will encourage mould and mildew and may 

 injure the stock. 



We have found that shingle shavings make the best material 

 for covering roots of trees and shrubs in storage. Just enough 

 should be used to cover the roots, but none should be placed 

 on the bodies or branches. 



Stored nurserv stock must have constant attention in order 

 to keep the temperature right. Our night watchman goes 

 through all departments once every hour and carefully notes 

 the temperature registered by the thermometers which are 



