NURSERY AND PLANTING TOOLS 



327 



INTERIOR OF SEEDLINGS STORAGE HOUSE, IIALSEY PLANTING STATION, THOMAS 



COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



trees in cylindrical piles, roots to the 

 center, as shown in the accompanying 

 illustration. In this method of piling a 

 liberal supply of moist sphagnum be- 

 tween layers of roots prevents them 

 from drying out, and the tops to the 

 outside, occupying a circle of larger cir- 

 cumference than that occupied by the 

 roots, have adequate air space and are 

 not likely to mold or mildew. It is 

 desirable, of course, to place these 

 stacks in a storage shed where a moist 

 atmosphere can be maintained and the 

 temperature held down. 



Where tall stacks are to be built 

 shelves should be fastened to the center 

 post about every 2 feet to prevent the 

 pressure from becoming too great on 

 the lower layers. 



NURSERY BOXES 



Where nurseries are so situated that 

 trees can be taken up and hauled direct 

 to the plantation the same day they are 



planted and where seedlings are being 

 dug and moved immediately to trans- 

 planting areas tight boxes 3 feet long 

 and 2 feet wide are convenient for the 

 temporary packing necessary. These 

 boxes should be padded inside with bur- 

 lap or with burlap over sphagnum. 

 They should also contain several pads 

 fastened at one end to the bottom of 

 the box. The pads separate successive 

 layers of trees. These boxes should be 

 provided with handles as shown in the 

 illustration. 



SHIPPING CRATES 



For railroad shipment an extremely 

 strong, yet light shipping crate can be 

 made by forming four boards 1x4x14 

 inches into a square for the ends and 

 nailing woven slatting onto them for 

 the sides. The center of the crate may 

 be lined with burlap to assist the sphag- 

 num in excluding air from the roots, 

 while the open ends of the box allow 



