PROPAGATION BY OFFSHOOTS 63 



best shipped in open crates, where they will get full 

 ventilation; otherwise they will mould on the road; 

 they should, of course, be kept away from engines 

 and other sources of heat, and protected from rats. 

 On a long voyage the moisture should be renewed as 

 necessary, either by dipping the bases of the shoots 

 in water or, if it cannot be done otherwise, merely 

 by turning the stream of a hose through the inter- 

 stices of the crate, (the leaf stalks, wired together, will 

 keep water from reaching the terminal bud.) The off- 

 shoots should be kept shghtly moist throughout their 

 journey, if possible, but the danger from too much 

 moisture is much greater than that from too little. 

 The great peril is rotting. Good results have been had, 

 when offshoots were brought to California during the 

 summer, by letting them finish their journey in an 

 iced refrigerator car, at a temperature of 50° to 60° F. 

 They arrive firm and fresh, but should be dried out 

 carefully. 



Success has been obtained in some instances when 

 offshoots were shipped dry, packed merely in straw, 

 even on such a long journey as from Algeria to 

 California. Nevertheless, this method can not be 

 recommended. 



Before the offshoot is planted, it should be dipped 

 in a cresol solution (as described in the chapter on 

 diseases) to free it from the bacteria of decay. When a 

 long shipment is made, it would be better if the off- 

 shoot were dipped before it is packed. 



The present requirement in the United States is 

 that all offshoots shall be planted in nursery rows for 

 the first year, so that the horticultural quarantine 

 authorities can keep them easily under control. This 

 method has some advantages, economizing space. 



