8 Department Circular 323, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



Calif. Mr. Morrow stated that he had learned of the method from 

 the Washington Nursery Co., Toppenish, Wash. The Washinoton 

 Nurser}^ Co. was written to for information as to the origin of the 

 method, and a reply was received indicating that they had not used 

 it. Several changes have been made in the method as suggested 

 by Mr. Morrow. Briefly, it consists in making up a bundle of scions 

 of the proper size, taking care that the material is not allowed to 

 dry out while being collected. The bundle is fii*st wrapped in several 

 thicknesses of waxed or oiled paper; next, it is wrapped in several 

 thicknesses of common burlap which have been dippecl in water and 

 the water wrung out; following this another wrapping of waxed 

 paper is put on, and finally a wrapping of dry burlap is added. 

 The bundle is then firndy tied with string and sli2:)ped into a tin 

 tube made for the purpose (see PL YI). If a tube is not available, 

 a good tin or wooden box may be used. Tlie box should have a 

 tight lid. After packing the tube or box it may be sewed in a 

 cloth bag and shipped as other packages are shipped (see the 

 illustration of prepared packages, PL I). Numerous experiments in 

 shipping dormant scions and other plant material have been made 

 with the wet-burlap method. So far. all are very promising. Mango 

 wood kept on the road for 55 days, going into the Tropics and back, 

 was found to be in good condition. Apple and pear wood has been 

 shipped to Australia and Java, involving 6 to 1'2 weeks on the road, 

 and has arrived in excellent condition. Altogether the method is 

 the most promising one so far discovered for the kind of wood 

 here described. 



BUDS OF HARD-WOODED PLANTS 



Many plants, and especially the stone fruits, also the rose and 

 other ornamentals, are propagated by budding. The operation is 

 usually performed during the growing season ; hence the buds must 

 be shipped at that time. Budwood, being soft and in a growing 

 condition as a rule, does not ship so well as dormant material. Bud- 

 wood should be selected and handled with the same care as dormant 

 wood. It should be free from scale and other insects and taken from 

 healthy trees or plants. The leaves should be trimmed as soon as 

 the branches are cut, leaving about half an inch of the petiole intact. 

 To jn-event wilting, the " sticks " containing the buds should be kept 

 wrai^ped in wet burlap. Pack and label as described for hard-wooded 

 scions, using the wet -burlap method. Four or five weeks is about the 

 limit of time such material can be kept, under the best conditions of 

 packing, handling, and shipping. 



BULBS, ROOTSTOCKS, ROOTS, AND RHIZOMES 



Nearly all of this material when collected at the proper season 

 keeps well, and may be forwarded long distances quite readily if 

 properly handled and packed. Bulbs come through in good shape if 

 packed in fairly dry, fine, sifted sphagnum moss, coconut fiber, buck- 

 wheat hulls, grain chaff, or any material that will prevent bruising 

 and too rapid drying out. (PL III.) In countries where it is difficult 

 to secure the usual packing material, bulbs, rootstocks, and roots are 

 sometimes packed in millet seed or similar seed, which may be easily 



