336 



SEEDING AND PLANTING 



Nursery stock is often heeled-in on the floor of the packing shed 

 (Fig. 96). When possible, the packing shed should be located on 

 sloping ground with the floor on a grade with the ground on the 

 lower side. The arrangement permits the easy unloading and 

 loading of stock as it is brought in from the nursery and later 

 shipped to its final destination. The floor should consist of a 

 foot or more of clean sand. Facilities should be afforded for light 

 and ventilation and the sand should be kept moist. Stock lifted 

 in the autumn or in the early spring, when not shipped directly 



FIG. 96. About 400,000 coniferous seedlings and transplants heeled-in on 

 the floor of the packing shed and awaiting shipment. Near Cheshire, Conn. 



from the field, is heeled-in on the floor of the packing shed and 

 packed and shipped as required. The trenches are rapidly exca- 

 vated in the loose sand and the plants heeled-in without untying 

 the bundles if the period of storage is short. The trees are usu- 

 ally sorted and tied in bundles as they are received from the 

 seedbeds or transplant beds. When the stock remains in the pack- 

 ing shed for several weeks it should be heeled-in without sorting 

 and bundling until required for shipment. 



Nursery stock can be held for long periods in cold storage when 

 properly packed. This method of storage is sometimes practiced 

 in holding stock for late shipments when under ordinary methods 



