56 OPEKATIONS OF GARDENING. PART T. 



think, that in all instances where seeds thus conveyed have 

 proved unsatisfactory, the failure has been due to some other 

 cause, rather than to the circumstance of their having been 

 packed in tin. Mr. R. Fortune states that some years ago, in 

 his voyage to China, he took with him a quantity of seeds of 

 various kinds : a portion were put in tin and soldered down, 

 and a portion in canvas bags, packed loosely, and suspended in 

 his cabin. Each plan, he says, proved equally successful ; and 

 all the seeds nearly turned out good.* 



One precaution, however, I think it possibly of some impor- 

 tance to attend to, and that is, that no other article be put 

 within the tin case with the seeds. I mention this, as I have 

 known it occur that a person has been even so indiscreet as to 

 pack seeds and bulbs in the same case. The effect upon the 

 whole contents of the case, of one of the bulbs becoming un- 

 sound, may be easily imagined. 



' Again, seeds imported for gardens in a damp climate, like 

 that of Bengal especially, should be soldered down in separate 

 tin cases, according to the time they are to be sown ; for if, as 

 is usual, all are packed in one case, the case must be opened 

 either much too soon for the sowing of some kinds of seeds, 

 or too late for that of others. For instance, Asparagus, Cab- 

 bage, Cauliflower, Celery, and Knol-Kohl seeds should be sown 

 as early as the first of September, or earlier; but if all the 

 seeds be contained in one case, and it be opened at that time, 

 there is every reason to fear that the seeds of Onions, Eadishes, 

 Turnips, Carrots, Peas, &c., as well as nearly all the annual 

 flower seeds, will become seriously impaired, if not utterly de- 

 stroyed by the damp during the long interval of a month and 

 a half at least that must elapse before they can be sown. I look 

 upon this as a most essential precaution to be attended to ; 

 having witnessed in how wonderfully short a time imported 

 seeds become ruined by exposure to damp. 



The transmission of seed by post, when the quantity is 

 small, is an excellent plan ; and by postal regulations parcels 

 of seed not exceeding 24 oz. in weight may now be sent 

 to India at " Sample Post Kates :" namely, 4 oz. for 4^., 8 oz. 

 for 8d., 12 oz. for Is., 16 oz. for Is. 4d., 20 oz. for Is. 8d., 24 oz. 

 for 2s. 



* * Journal of the Agri-Hort. Society/ vol. vi. p. 134. 



