Well this could have been a legal question but it's really about physical processes so I put it here.

Live roots damaged by an excavation in Winter, deciduous trees, fragments collected after about a month out of ground exposed to wind and sun...pretty dry. Collected and placed into Ziplock bags. Would you anticipate a problem if kept in plastic? Better in paper or vent the plastic?

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on April 03, 2000 at 15:42:37:

What are you going to use them for? Any testing for chemical composition (starch, etc.) should be done right away.

In my experience, plastic is not good for any tree samples (except maybe soil), unless they will be frozen. Any moisture in the tissues will be drawn out, and accumulate on the surface. Unless other precautionis are taken you will have all sorts of molds growing on it that can total obliterate what you want to show. Also, any decay organisms will continue to progress, and may eventually extand far beyond where they were when you go to trial. Try telling the jury "well, it wasn't this rotten when I collected it 4 years ago."

My suggestion- Dry thoroughly. Wrap in clean newsprint (unprinted paper), and place in paper bags, or tape the paper closed. Store in cool, DRY location, or in a freezer if necessary. (We considered this with a 150-pound chuck of buttress root, three feet long. Decided against it.) Check periodically for mold and decay. Don't forget to attach a collection and handling tag to document where it goes and what it is.

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on April 03, 2000 at 15:42:37:

Thanks Russ. They will be for visual observation only... a little more tangible than the photographs. "This is an example of what was done!" So analysis and testing are not an issue.

They are carefully tagged. I will transfer them to paper. I don't think this 12"x3" section of dirty root will go over very big in the freezer!

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on April 03, 2000 at 15:42:37:

Hedge your bets: refrigerate, dry, and freeze separate samples, if you have enough.

Reply to post by Scott, on April 03, 2000 at 21:06:51:

Scott,

Try freezedrying. I have a big unit that is real hany for all sorts of things. There
will be a florist nearby who should be able to help you. Once dried it will last for
ever and will not shrink or deform.

mark

Reply to post by Mark Hartley, on April 04, 2000 at 06:58:25:

Very clever of you to have Mrs Hartley in that business! Thanks Mark.