Apple wood help

I'm picking up some free Apple branches from a Craigslist ad tomorrow. I intend to use the straighter branches for canes, and give the bulkier bits to a friend with a lathe.

How should I go about storing it to avoid checking and splitting? Peel right away and/or seal the ends? Give the bulkier bits to my friend so he can deal with green wood?

I figure any scrap will be used for spoons/butter knives/handles, and scraps from those will go to my uncle for smoking meat.

Thanks in advance for tips.