864 Mr E. Lindsay on Transmitting Living Plants Ah-oad. 



mostly dead on their arrival. On this occasion, a case 

 similar to that now exhibited was prepared. It is 18 inches 

 long, 12 inches wide, 16 inches deep, has a ridge roof 

 with a handle fastened on the top for carrying. The 

 main difference from an ordinary Wardian case is in 

 the substitution of cotton blinds for glass sashes. The 

 blinds are nailed to the top of the ridge and tied down 

 with cords to the sides of the case. The advantage 

 of this method is the admission of sufficient light and 

 air to maintain the plants in a healtliy condition ; the 

 fine threads of the cloth act as a shade from strong 

 sunshine, and do not admit so much air as to cause the 

 interior to become quickly dried up. The plants sent on 

 this trial consisted of india-rubbers, several tea plants, 

 cinchonas, and ipecacuanha. They were all turned out 

 of the pots in which they had been growing previously, the 

 balls of soil slightly reduced, and then wrapped up tightly 

 amongst sphagnum moss. The plants were then packed 

 in the case firmly, in an upright position, using sphagnum 

 for filling in the interstices. Thin strips of wood were 

 placed across the balls, the ends of which were nailed to a 

 flange inside the case for that purpose, thus preventing the 

 plants from moving, even if the case was turned on end. 

 After being well watered and allowed to settle for a day, 

 the blinds were tied down and the case sent to London to 

 Mr Buchanan He was eighty-two days on the journey, 

 and in a letter to Mr Taylor he reports that all the 

 plants arrived in a perfectly healthy condition, except the 

 cinchonas, and that he had not given up all hope even 

 of them. I may mention that the cinchonas referred to 

 were not very vigorous plants to begin with ; they were 

 the best we had at the time, but were merely young seed- 

 lings. It would be well to have this method still further 

 tested, either by having a few plants sent to a distance 

 alone, or at all events in charge of some one less skilful in 

 the management of plants than Mr Buchanan. For all but 

 very tender plants (where special provision would be re- 

 quired), I think more favourable results would be attained 

 by the use of a case such as that described, provided it were 

 placed free from danger of sea water getting through the 

 canvas, than if the usual Wardian case were used. 



