ABACA (MANILA HEMP) — EDWARDS 341 



from the lighter to the ship, without damaging the plants, was a diffi- 

 cult job and it was after nightfall when this work was completed. 

 The Ethan Allen sailed from Malita for the Canal Zone via Honolulu 

 at 7 :45 p. m. August 21, 1925, and 42 days later, on the morning of 

 October 3, arrived at Balboa. 



The conditions on a heavily loaded cargo ship are not favorable for 

 the transportation of a large shipment of growing plants. The more 

 essential requirements with respect to stowage space are good ventila- 

 tion, light — sunlight if possible, protection from heavy winds and salt 

 water, and some degree of accessibility as the plants must occasionally 

 be watered. To obtain all these conditions in any one place on a ship, 

 particularly during stormy weather, is practically impossible. The 

 places available on the Ethan Allen for the stowage of plants were 

 the boat deck, on top of the hatches on the after well deck, and in the 

 poop cargo space which opens off the main deck aft. The shipment 

 of abaca plants was divided into three parts; the boxes of plants 

 planted in sphagnum were placed on the boat deck ; the heavy boxes 

 and cans of plants planted in dirt on the hatches, and the crates of 

 rhizomes in the poop cargo space. This arrangement would have 

 been satisfactory with reasonably favorable weather conditions, but 

 as strong head winds and high seas were encountered immediately 

 after leaving the Gulf of Davao, and as these continued throughout 

 the greater part of the voyage, it became necessary for a time to move 

 all the material into the poop cargo space. 



Between Honolulu and Balboa it was necessary during a storm to 

 close entirely this cargo space, leaving neither light nor ventilation. 

 In the course of the storm some of the crates shifted and were thrown 

 on the boxes of growing plants. As heavy seas were washing over the 

 main deck, in spite of all precautions that could be taken a small 

 amount of salt water entered the cargo space. It was impossible to 

 determine to what extent this salt water reached the plants, but their 

 condition and rapid growth during the following 2 weeks indicated 

 that but little damage had been done. The supply of fresh water was 

 limited, but enough was obtained for essential watering of the plants. 

 Throughout the entire voyage not only the ship's officers, but also the 

 members of the crew, furnished all possible assistance. On several 

 occasions when the weather became threatening the deck crew turned 

 out during the night to move boxes of plants or close the cargo space. 



TRANSSHIPMENT OF PLANTS 



On arrival at Balboa, the ship was boarded by the local representa- 

 tive of the Federal Horticultural Board, who accompanied the ship- 

 ment through the Panama Canal to Cristobal, and from Cristobal to 

 the plant quarantine station of the United Fruit Co. at Flat Rock on 



