100 



r 



taken. Thirty-seven plants liad been packed in each case, and 

 of these only six were dead in one case and seven in the other. 



The plate facing p, 99 depicts a small portable Wardian 

 case, constructed for use in the tropics, after its return from 

 New Guinea packed with plants. The case is made of -| in. hard 

 deal, well painted, and measures Inside 23 in. long by IT in. 

 wide, and is 26 in. high. It is so constructed that it can be 

 taken to pieces and packed in an easily portable parcel, and can 

 readily be jmt together by means of a few screws. The weight 

 of the case when empty is 22 lbs. 



To admit light talc in small sheets has been used instead 

 of glass, both for the sake of lightness and to obviate the danger 

 of breakage in travelling. Talc, however, is expensive, and 

 in its place sheets of acetate of cellulose (sold as '' cellon '') could 

 be used for the roof of the case. This material is quite trans- 

 parent, tougli and non-inflammable. 



G. Boxes. — Many plants with woody stems, wliich are capable 

 of supporting drought for some weeks, may be packed in boxes, 

 fixed at the ends or along the sides by means of battens so 



mi 



free. The roots should first be tightly enclosed in a layer of 

 moss, wood shavings, or fibrous material, such as banana leaves, 

 and the plants can tlien be arranged so that they will not move. 

 A few small holes in the sides or lid of the box will provide 

 ventilation. Such plants as Koses, Ehododendrons, Pelar- 

 goniums, Begonias, and Orchids have been sent successfully from 

 Kew to distant countries, even to Australia and New Zealand. 



Cases or boxes eoutaining living plants from the East Indies 

 Australia, &c., which are sent via the Suez Canal should be 

 despatched so as to arrive in England in September, October, 

 April, or May._ The heat of the Red Sea has often proved fatijl 

 to plants passing through it during the summer (June, July, 

 August). 



Cases and boxes from America, the West Indies, &c., may be 



to the end of October. 



om 



No cases containing* living plants from the tropics should 



April. 



month 



II.-MUSEUM DEPARTMENT. 



Among the objects which should be collected for Museum 

 purposes are : — 



1. Fruits and Seeds, especially those which are of large size, 



or possess any peculiarity of form or structure entitlincf them to 

 notice. Manj 



me 



previous to packing. Seeds that are edible, of 



or sources of oil, should, if possible, be gradually dried and packed 

 in canvas bags. Naphthalene or carbon bisulphide should be 

 placed with any food grains liable to attack by weevils, and such 

 seeds should be packed in tin boxes. Those fruits and seeds, &c., 

 that, when ripe, burst 0|>en into valves, or separate by their 



