eek or two in the very cold bottom of an icebox.
The most successful grafters keep scions with a sort of intelligent
neglect. Dr. Morris buries them in the sawdust of his icehouse and it
seems to make no difference if ice is there or not. I once tried keeping
them in an icehouse over the ice and they became soaking wet. I have
noticed that Dr. Morris's sawdust seems quite dry. Mr. Jones keeps some,
at least, of his in bins or barrels covered with burlap bags. He says
that heartnut scions keep best not packed away but kept in the open
cellar. I notice that Mr. Jones has been using some kind of mill
planings in place of sphagnum moss. Branches and large scions will keep
well in a medium that seems dry to the touch. Small scions, such as
those cut from old parent trees, require careful handling to prevent
shriveling, on the one hand, or bud starting on the other. A low
temperature is probably desirable, but the right condition of moisture
is essential to the proper keeping of scions for any length of time. I
should naturally prefer to keep them in darkness, but I am not sure that
it is important. Undoubtedly the access of some air is necessary but it
would be difficult to keep it altogether away. I do not know how long
scions would keep if entirely covered with paraffine. One year I dipped
all the cut ends of my scions in melted paraffine but I am not sure that
it is worth the trouble. One year I packed away my scions in rather
moist sphagnum moss. The first time I looked at them they were enmeshed
in mold mycelium. Later many of the buds started to grow. As suggested
by Mr. Jones, dipping either the scions or the moss in half strength
Bordeaux mixture will remedy the mold trouble. Parenthetically, this
should be of help in keeping chestnuts, chinkapins, and other nuts that
spoil easily with mold, for planting in the spring. Packing scions
tightly and heavily covered in boxes for any length of time has been, in
my observation, disastrous. In shipping scions a method advised, and one
that I have followed with satisfaction, is to wrap the scions, either
separately or together, in paraffine paper without any packing next the
scions but putting it, instead, outside the paraffine paper. This
packing may be sphagnum moss or mill planings slightly moistened. This
also is wrapped in a moisture impervious covering and then in ordinary
wrapping paper. For shipping long distanced the moss or planings should
be dipped in half strength B