[619] 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



Directions Jbr taking care of groixi- 

 itig Plants at Sea, by Dr. W. 

 Roxburgh, of Calcutta. 



[From Transactions of the Society of 

 Arts, Vol. XXVII.] 



PARTICULAR care, if not 

 placed in a cabin, must be 

 taken, that they are kept covered 

 during stormy weather, or such 

 as raises the least saline spray into 

 the air ; for the chief danger 

 plants are liable to at sea, is occa- 

 sioned by the saline particles with 

 which the air is then charged. 

 These, falling on the plants, 

 quickly evaporate, but leave the 

 deadly salt behind : every care 

 must therefore be taken, to guard 

 against salt water, and the spray 

 at sea. During moderate weather, 

 it will be proper to keep the boxes 

 open, for plants cannot long exist 

 without air and light; also during 

 moderate rain, which is much 

 belter for plants than water 

 from the cask ; but too much 

 moisture is more dangerous than 

 drought. When the weather is 

 dry, it will be necessary to give 

 them a little fresh water now and 

 then ; the periods and quantity 

 cannot be pointed out in any in- 



structions, as the state of the wea- 

 ther must be the guide. 



Directions where to place the 

 chests, cannot be well given ; 

 as that will, in a great measure, 

 depend on the size, structure, &c. 

 of the ship. In our Indiamen, 

 round the capstan, on the quarter- 

 deck, seems the best, on many ac- 

 counts. The greatest danger in 

 such a situation is, while the deck 

 is washing in the mornings, the 

 boxes must then be shut, and co- 

 vered with a piece of canvas, or 

 something to prevent the salt 

 water getting in between cre- 

 vices. 



When plants from a cold cli- 

 mate get into a warm one, they 

 shoot most luxuriantly, and often 

 kill or choke one another : the 

 larger shoots must therefore be 

 frequently shortened, and as many 

 of the leaves thinned as will give 

 the rest air and room. Insects, par- 

 ticularly caterpillars, often make 

 their appearance about the same 

 time ; they must be carefully pick- 

 ed off. 



Baskets with roots (such as po- 

 tatoes, &c.), or succulent plants, 

 may be hung up in any cool, airy 

 place; such, for example, as the 



