TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

REHAB1LJTATION TECHNIQUES 117
Desiccation by the wind stream can easily ruin the exposed plants
for planting purposes.
Storage of plants at the project planting area need not be a
problem. Ordinarily, baled plants may be stored a week or 10 days
in the original package if placed in a cool, moist, sheltered spot away
from the sun or wind. Sheds or root cellars allowing more control
of temperature and ventilation will make p088ible the extension of
the holding period by two or three weeks if periodic inspections are
provided to ensure that the packing material (mOlS or shingle tow)
is moistened when needed.
If seedlings must be held at the planting site longer than a few
days, they should ordinarily be "heeled in." This process should
be attended to with the utmost care. The beat heeling-in ground
is moist (but well drained), easily worked soil exposed to neither
direct sunlight nor excessive cold. Ifnatural shelter is lacking, brush,
burlap, or canvas shelter should be provided, but care must be exercised
to keep this covering off the plants to permit adequate air
circulation.
The seedlings are placed against the side of a shallow trench,
their tops projecting above the ground slightly le88 than in the seed
bed. They should be in a layer not more than 8-10 em thick, and the
side of the trench may be nearly vertical or slope as much &8 45° (a
slope simplifies the packing of a 10-15 cm layer of moist soil against
the roots). A thicker layer of earth should be used if only one layer
of seedlings is to be heeled in. The beds should be kept moderately
moist. Good drainage is mandatory, however, becauee extremely wet
seedlings will be hard to take out ofthe trench and standing water will
kill the plants. Over-winter or dry-season heeling-in should always be
avoided because of the damage to stock and resulting poor survival.
Poor handling of plants in the field is probably the greatest
source of losses. A good rule is to do everything feasible to reduce the
evaporation and transpiration ofmoisture from the plants. Care must
also be taken to avoid smothering or drowning seedlings. Wherever
poesible, the stock should be left in the original bale for transporting
to the planting area by truck or packboard.
The packing material in each package should be used by the
planter to cover the roots of plants in his planting bag or tray to
keep them moist. Each plant should be kept in this container at all
times, not carried in the hand. The beat container is a bag made
of waterproof canvas or other stout waterproof cloth, with two loop
handles. The bag should be divided into two compartments. A small