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suits of years. I sliovikl have concluded that all plants would grow as well as the ferns, 

 inasmuch as I possessed the power of modifying the conditions suited to the wants of 

 each individual." — p. 42. 



Chap. IV. — On the conveyance of Plants and Seeds on Ship-board, 

 After some observations on the means formerly employed for the pre- 

 servation of plants during long voyages, the author thus proceeds : — 



" But by far the greater number of plants require to be kept growing during the 

 voyage ; and, prior to the introduction of the glazed cases, a large majority of these 

 plants perished from the variations of temperature to which they were subjected, — from 

 being too much or too little watered, — from the spray of the sea, — or, when protected 

 from this spray, from the exclusion of light." — p. 46. 



The author's reflections on these causes of failure induced him, in 

 June, 1833, to send out to Sydney two experimental cases filled vdth 

 ferns and grasses, nearly the whole of which amved there " alive and 

 flourishing :" — 



" The cases were refilled at Sydney in the month of February, 1834, the thermome- 

 ter then being between 90» and 100*'. In their passage to England they encountered 

 very varying temperatures. The thermometer fell to 20® in rounding Cape Horn, and 

 the decks were covered a foot deep with snow. At Rio Janeiro the thennometer rose 

 to lOO®, and in crossing the line to 1200. In the month of November, eight months 

 after their departure, they arrived in the British Channel, the thermometer then being 

 as low as 40". These plants were placed upon the deck during the whole voyage and 

 were not once watered, yet on their arrival at the docks they were in the most healthy 

 and vigorous condition." — p. 46. 



Subsequent experiments with plants of a higher order were equally 

 successful ; and the following extract of a letter to the author from Mr. 

 George Loddiges, is confirmatory of the importance of the plan. 



" My brother and I have, since 1835, made trial of more than 500 cases to and 

 from various parts of the globe, with great variety of success ; but have uniformly 

 found, wherever your own directions were strictly attended to, — that is, when the cases 

 were kept the whole voyage in full exposure to the light, upon deck, and care taken to 

 repair the glass immediately in cases of accident, — that the plants have arrived in good 

 condition. * * Some of the cases have been opened in fine order after voyages 

 of upwards of eight months : in short, nothing more appears to be wanting to ensure 

 success in the importation of plants, than to place them in these boxes properly mois- 

 tened, and to allow them the full benefit of light during the voyage.'' — p. 86. 



Full instructions are given for the construction of the cases and the 

 preparation of the plants for the voyage. 



Chap. V. — On the application of the closed plan in improving the 

 condition of the Poor. 



" Among the numerous useful applications of the glazed cases, there is one which 



