Mr E. Lindsay on Transmitting Living Plants Abroad. 363 



On a Method of Transmitting Living Plants Abroad, By 

 E. Lindsay, Curator, Royal Botanic Garden. 



(Read 13th May 1886.) 



The method usually adopted in transmitting living 

 plants, particularly where very long journeys have to be 

 undergone, is to pack the plants in Wardian cases, i.e., 

 cases fitted with glass sashes, which, when closed, are 

 nearly air-tight. This is no doubt the best mode of con- 

 veying plants safely, provided they are properly attended 

 to on the journey. To do so it is almost necessary for 

 some one who understands the requirements of plant life, 

 to take charge of the case, as, when sent without any 

 special attention being paid to them, the results are 

 frequently unsatisfactory. The dangers attending such 

 structures appear to be want of ventilation and shading. 

 The plants soon become drawn up and weakly in the steamy 

 atmosphere of a close-fitting case, and often arrive at their 

 destination in a dying or dead condition. 



One of the most successful importations of plants that I 

 recollect having seen was contained in a small wooden 

 box sent to the Garden from Australia by Baron von 

 Mueller, in 1866. The plants had been over three months 

 on the journey, but were found to be in perfect health on 

 their arrival at the Garden. This result we attributed 

 chiefly to the simple manner in which the case was con- 

 structed. It consisted of a rough square wooden box, filled 

 with soil, into which the plants (which had previously been 

 grown in pots) were placed; two narrow strips of wood 

 were nailed on to the sides of the box in an upright 

 position, to which a cross-piece was attached, constituting 

 a handle. The whole was then covered with strong cotton 

 cloth, no glass being used. In vol. viii., p. 482, Transactions 

 of the Botanical Society, a description is given of this case 

 by the late Mr M'Nab. In July last our associate, Mr 

 Buchanan, desiring to take some economic plants out with 

 him to Central Africa,an opportunity was afforded of making 

 an experiment. This was rendered all the more necessary, 

 as on previous occasions similar plants sent to Central 

 Africa from the garden, packed in Wardian cases, although 

 taken every care of on the way out, were found to be 



