An unheated cellar with a dirt floor is a very satisfactory place for storing trees.  Select a corner of the cellar far from any source of heat or temperature change.  Place the trees so that the roots are pointing toward the basement wall.  Cover the roots to a depth of six inches with either sand or sandy loam, packing the soil firmly to eliminate air pockets.  Lastly, cover the trees completely with burlap sacks.  Once every two weeks, the earth around the roots should be watered.  Trees maintained in this way are conveniently ready to plant when the ground thaws out in the spring.

Another and better method of storing trees is to plant them outside in a trench, preferably on the north side of a building, having first waxed them as described above.  One side of the trench should slope so that the trees will lie in an oblique position with their branches touching the ground.  The roots of these trees should be covered with dirt, then more trees set alongside them, until all have been planted and the earth made firm about their roots.  Trees will usually suffer no damage during such winter storage if their roots have been properly packed in sand or sandy loam.  Six or more cans, each containing a little poisoned grain, should be set among the branches.  If these cans are laid on their sides, rodents will have easier access to the poison.  The branches of the trees should then be well covered with straw or hay, with heavy boards laid on top to keep it from blowing away.  If trees are received for planting after the ground has frozen, all that is necessary is to build a log fire on the side where they are to be heeled in.  This will thaw out the soil enough so that a trench can be made to accommodate them.

Chapter 16

SUGGESTIONS ON GRAFTING METHODS

Grafting, including budding, may be defined as inserting a piece of wood which carries buds of a desired variety, on a root stock sufficiently compatible to accept it, for the purpose of propagation.  Methods vary, each nurseryman having one or more which he prefers, but the principle is always the same.

Scionwood may be cut the fall before grafting is to be done, after the growing season has ended, but some prefer to cut the scions in early spring.  This means that the scions must be stored until time to graft, and correct storage is so important that nurserymen make elaborate provision for it.  I have found that keeping scions underground in a Harrington graft storage box is the safest method.  An illustration of this box is given, with directions for its construction and location.  A small quantity of scions may be kept in an icebox (not a mechanical refrigerator), by cutting them into convenient lengths of one or two feet, dipping them in melted beeswax, wrapping them in tar or asphalt paper and placing them close to the ice.  They will remain in good condition for several months if there is always a good supply of ice.  Care must be taken in dipping the scions in melted wax, for if the wax is too hot it will injure the buds.  It should never become so hot that it smokes.  I find it advisable to keep an unmelted piece of wax in the liquid wax to hold the temperature down.