m 



iiiay liave ilie leaves AvhoUy or partially removed. One of the 

 most imj)ortant matters in connection with sending shoots for 

 grafting or for cuttings is determining the right moistness of the 

 sphagnum or other packing material. It should be moist but not 

 satiirated. The matter is, of course, dependent to some extent on 

 the nature of the wrappings and their capacity for preventing 

 escape of moisture, buf the mistake of making the packing 

 material too w^et is more often made than is the reverse. 



A useful method, especially when the cuttings have to be sent 

 long distances, is to pack them in a ventilated box, with their ends 

 (both top and bottom) bedded in clay balls, the middle part un- 

 covered. The box should be of the right size to enable the cuttings 

 to be packed across it all one way so that the clayed ends fit against 

 the sides. In this way the uncovered middle part of the cuttings 

 is in free air, and '^ sweating '' is prevented. 



Cuttings that arrive in a shrivelled but still living state should 

 be submerged in water for a few hours to regain their plumpness. 



Examples of genera, of which leafless cuttings for rooting may 

 be safely sent long distances are : Solix, Populus, Rosa, Rihes, 

 Neilliay Sinraea^ Tawari,r, CornuSy F orsytliia. Eoot-cuttings, if 

 the collector can secure them, would be useful of such genera as 



Rhiis, AilanthnSj and others with fleshy roots. 



As a general rule, leafless cuttings for rooting should reach 

 England as soon as possible after the leaves have fallen. Grafts 

 and root-cuttings need not arrive until spring. It need hardly 

 be said that every precaution should be taken not to introduce in 

 this way a new insect or fungoid pest. "" 



Leafy summer cuttings of hardy trees and shrubs have been 



very successfully transported from America to England in the 

 month of July. The cuttings were tied in small bundles of 

 * half a dozen or so and laid loosely in shallow baskets with damp 

 moss about the stems, the leafy parts being left uncovered. The 

 basket was then tied down wdth canvas. It is, of course, only 

 possible to send over cuttings in this way by arranging with the 

 purser or other officer on board ship that they may be kept in the 

 cool storage. Tor hardy things it was found that a temperature 

 of about 42*^ Fahr. was very suitable. Cuttings ten days in transit 

 have been found to root well, but perhaps a fortnight is about the 

 limit for this class of cutting*. w. J. B* 



Presentations to Museums. — The following miscellaneous 



specimens have been received in addition to those previously 



recorded in the Bulletin: — 



Mr. R. B. Rogers, Launceston. — Two photographs of naturally 



inarched branches of poplar, section of wood of green oak, and 



three large bunches of fruits of common walnut- 

 Curator, Botanic Station, Tobago. — Pods of Canavalia caribaea. 

 ^ Mr. J. Harris, Swansea.— Section of trunk of Rhododendron 



Falconeri. 



Director, Botanic^ Gardens, Singapore. — Photograpli of 

 selected tubers of varieties of Manihot, and two photographs of 

 old tree of Tlevea hrasiliensis that had recently died in the Botanic 

 Garden??, Singapore. 



.rf^ 



