i68 



varies from 2J/2 inches for some species 

 to upwards of 10 inches for others. 

 Longleaf pine is unique because it does 

 not develop a stem in the nursery. 

 Roots of all species are generally cut to 

 8 inches because it is difficult to plant 

 longer ones. Trees stripped of laterals 

 and the smaller rootlets are not con- 

 sidered plantable grade. 



STEM DIAMETER or caliper is a good 

 indicator of grade. Small, spindly 

 stock, resulting from overcrowding in 

 the seedbed, may meet the require- 

 ments as to height and root length but 

 is unplantable because of the small, 

 weak stem. Generally, conifers should 

 be three thirty-seconds of an inch or 

 more in diameter. Extremely large 

 stock with a caliper of more than one- 

 half inch is inferior to smaller and bet- 

 ter balanced trees. 



If the desired size and other char- 

 acteristics are not obtained the first 

 year, the seedlings remain in the nurs- 

 ery for a year or more. If they do not 

 develop a well-balanced system of roots 

 in the seedbed, they are lifted and 

 transplanted in the nursery. The age 

 class is designated by the number of 

 years they remain in the seedbeds and 

 transplant beds. Thus, 1-0 indicates 

 1-year seedlings; 1-1 indicates 2-year- 

 old trees, 1 year in the seedbed and 1 

 year in the transplant bed; and 2-1 

 indicates 3-year-old trees that have re- 

 mained 2 years in the seedbed and 1 

 year in transplant bed. This system 

 provides a ready designation of age 

 and cultural practice. 



Hardwood species have a lower ratio 

 of top to root than conifers, averaging 

 less than 1 to 1. Total green weight and 

 caliper are a better basis for determin- 

 ing their quality. Generally, those with 

 diameters ranging from two-sixteenths 

 to six-sixteenths of an inch and heights 

 of 8 to 36 inches survive better than 

 smaller trees. 



MAINTENANCE of nursery buildings, 

 grounds, and the equipment is ordi- 

 narily scheduled for the slack season. 

 Nurseries accessible to the general pub- 



Yearbool( of Agriculture 1949 



lie have many visitors and the impres- 

 sion they receive is influenced greatly 

 by the condition of the facilities. Neat, 

 well-maintained buildings and grounds 

 add much to the working conditions, 

 and properly maintained tools and 

 motor equipment is an incentive for 

 safe, efficient work. A regular mainte- 

 nance program reduces time lost when 

 nursery work is in progress. 



The trend toward mechanization in- 

 creases the investment in equipment 

 and overhead costs. Salaries have in- 

 creased sharply, and unless offset by 

 greater production the indirect charges 

 become excessive. The technical prob- 

 lems encountered in nursery work re- 

 quire specialized training and experi- 

 ence. A small nursery operated as a 

 part-time job and with a minimum of 

 equipment usually is less efficient than 

 the larger nurseries with a full comple- 

 ment of equipment and a full-time 

 nurseryman. Smaller nurseries near the 

 planting area are more economical be- 

 cause the cost of transporting stock 

 from larger nurseries may offset the 

 savings of large-scale production. 



THE DEVELOPMENT of new machin- 

 ery and techniques is an important fea- 

 ture of all nursery work. Cultivating 

 seedlings with machinery results in sub- 

 stantial savings over hand labor. Treat- 

 ing seedbeds with a selective herbicide 

 before sowing helps cut weeding costs. 



Much nursery work is now done by 

 women. Threading transplant boards, 

 hand weeding, and grading are a few 

 of the jobs performed by them. 



Cold storage for seed and stratifica- 

 tion facilities are being installed at the 

 larger nurseries. 



The amount of planting stock grown 

 in the United States is increasing. 

 During the war years many nurseries 

 were closed but have since reopened. 

 New nurseries are being established 

 and old ones expanded. Now that field- 

 planting machines are being used more 

 extensively, landowners, both large 

 and small, are planting their forest 

 lands and abandoned fields to trees at 

 an increasing rate. 



