BLIGH'S VOYAGES 127 



a small sprinkling of salt water, or of the salt dew which 

 fills the air even in a moderate gale, will inevitably destroy 

 them if not immediately washed off with fresh water. It 

 is necessary therefore that the cabin be appropriated 

 to the sole purpose of making a kind of greenhouse, 

 and the key of it given to the custody of the gardener ; 

 and that in case of cold weather in going round the Cape 

 a stove be provided, by which it may be kept in a tempera- 

 ture equal to that of the intertropical countries. 



" The fittest vessels for containing the plants that can 

 easily be obtained I conceive to be casks, sawed down 

 to a proper height, and properly pierced in their bottoms 

 to let the water have a passage ; in both which articles 

 the gardener's directions must be followed. Of such 

 half-tubs, properly secured to the floor as near to each 

 other as they can stand, a considerable number may find 

 room in the cabin, each of which will hold several plants ; 

 and these I consider as a stock which cannot be damaged 

 or destroyed but by some extraordinary misfortune. As 

 these tubs, which will be very heavy, must be frequently 

 brought upon deck for the benefit of the sun, the crew 

 must assist in moving them ; as indeed they must 

 assist the gardener on all occasions in which he stands in 

 need of their help. Beside these must be provided tubs 

 so deep that the tops of the plants will not reach to their 

 edges. These must be lashed all round the Quarter Deck, 

 along the Boom, and in every place where room can 

 possibly be found for them, and for each a cover of canvas 

 must be made to fit it ; which covers it will be the duty 

 of the gardener to put on and take off as he judges fitting ; 

 and no one else must interfere with him in so doing on 

 any account whatever. 



"As the plants will frequently want to be washed, 

 from the salt dampness which the sea air will deposit 

 upon them, beside allowance of water a considerable 

 provision must be made for that purpose ; but, as the 



