As a precaution against fungi, we usually use bordeaux mixture, two thirds standard strength, to dampen moss for packing scions, especially if they are to remain in storage several months.
Our rule is to use moss only slightly damp to the touch and if used in sufficient quantity, say two or three times as much bulk as we have of scions, we find no trouble in keeping scions in perfect condition for months. In fact, as an experiment, we have carried pecan scions in cold storage and without re-packing for fifteen months and then get a fair stand of grafts to grow.
We usually advise putting scions in cold storage where convenient, especially if they are for use in late May or June, but this is not at all necessary if the scions are packed in moss only slightly damp. In fact scions kept in an ordinary cellar at a temperature around 50 degrees have given us better results on the average the past two years than have those from cold storage.
AFTERNOON SESSION, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1920, 2 P. M.
THE PRESIDENT: We very fortunately have with us a gentleman from the Bureau of Entomology, Mr. F. E. Brooks, who will talk to us about nut insects for a time and we will be very glad to listen to him.
MR. BROOKS: I believe your program is full for this afternoon and I shall keep you but a few minutes.
A little more than a year ago the problem of insects affecting the nut crop of Northern United States was assigned to me by the Bureau of Entomology. I wish to say the work has been very delightful to me from several standpoints. In the first place, it has brought me into association with a delightful group of workers. I want to express to you the pleasure I have had in meeting the various nut growers of the northern part of this country and noting the hearty way in which they are ready to co-operate in solving the nut insect problems. The field of work is interesting because there appear to be in sight no insect pests that promise to embarrass or overwhelm the nut grower. We have a few quite serious insect problems, perhaps none more serious than that occasioned by our old acquaintance, the "chestnut worm." That problem, however, is being solved rapidly in many localities by the chestnut blight.