CiiAP. XX. PLANTS TN WATIDTAN CASES. 335 



The fi-caraes were protected by a gr.ating of ii'on wire, with a 

 canvas covering capable of being unrolled so as to screen the 

 plants from the direct rays of the sun, if necessary. The soil 

 was not less than eight or ten inches deep, and kept doMH by 

 cross-battens, and the plants were fairly established in it 

 before starting. In 1849 Mr. Fortune sowed large quantities 

 of seeds in the cases, between rows of young plants, which 

 germinated on their way from China to India, and reached 

 their destination in the Himalayas in good conditon. Out of 

 250 tea-plants, 215 arrived in perfect order.^ 



But it was an easy process to convey plants by the short 

 voyage from China to Calcutta, when compared with the 

 introduction of plants from the western coast of South 

 America into India ; and the performance of the latter feat, 

 in the case of the chinchona-plants under Mr. Cross's care, 

 is undoubtedly the most extraordinary success of the kind 

 that has yet been achieved. 



A few remarks on the treatment of plants in Wardian cases 

 were supplied to me by Mr. Weir and Mr. Cross, who acquired 

 their experience in the voyages from South America to 

 India ; and by Mr. Mclvor, who received the plants on the 

 Neilgherry hills. The cases were filled \vith soil to a depth 

 of nine to ten inches, in which the chiuchonas were planted 

 in rows, from the back to the front of the case. The distance 

 from plant to plant was regulated by their size, but, in the 

 case of their having much foliage, they should be rather wide 

 apart, for the crowding of foliage is always injurious, and 

 often brings on mildew or mould. After having been planted 

 they were well watered, and shaded from the glare of the 

 mid-day sun. On the surface of the soil, between each row 

 of plants, a batten was placed, extending from the back to 

 the front of the case, and held firmly down by two longer 



3 See Fortune's Tea Districts, clmp. xxi. p. 858-9. 



