THE FOREST NURSERY 339 



receptacles with their contents are thoroughly drenched with 

 water before shipping. 



When a few small plants are to be sent by mail or express, the 

 weight of the wrappings is often more than that of the plants. 

 They can usually be economically and successfully transported 

 by packing the roots in damp moss, rolled in paraffined paper and 

 wrapped with burlap. 



If the plants are to be transported by rail or there is uncer- 

 tainty in the time that they will remain in transport, the roots 

 should be protected by placing moist moss around them. Care 

 should be taken, however, that the moss is not overwet. Sphag- 

 num moss is the best medium in which to pack the roots of plants 

 in order to prevent overdrying. It can be gathered in large quan- 

 tities at low cost in sphagnum swamps. If the nursery is not 

 near a source of supply, it can be purchased by the bale or barrel 

 from any dealer in gardener's supplies. 



The trees are packed in bales, boxes, crates, or baskets depending 

 somewhat upon the size and character of the stock and the fancy 

 or convenience of the shipper. 



8. Packing in Bales and Bundles. Deciduous stock, even 

 when of large size, is often baled or bundled for shipment. Fifty 

 or more plants are bundled together with the roots in one direc- 

 tion and firmly tied. The roots are packed in damp sphagnum 

 moss and the whole firmly wrapped in burlap. Usually heavy 

 paper is wrapped about the moss-covered roots before the burlap 

 is applied in order to prevent overdrying. 



The following method of packing is practiced on some of the 

 National Forests: 1 The plants, as lifted, are sorted and tied in 

 bundles of 50 or 100 each. The roots of each bundle, with the 

 tips bent back, are rolled in a layer of moist moss, and the roots 

 and moss then wrapped in a piece of burlap about 1J feet square. 

 The wrapped bundles are packed in boxes having the bottoms 

 and the lower part of the sides and the ends tight, but with the 

 tops and upper part of the sides constructed of slats with air 

 spaces between. These boxes are especially designed for trans- 

 portation to the plantation on pack animals. They are 24 

 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 15 inches deep. A layer of 

 moist moss is placed in the bottom of the box and the bundles 



1 Wilcox, A. R.: Nursery practice at the Wind River nursery. Manu- 

 script. 1913. 



