TRANSPORT OF PLANTS AND SEEDS 267 



baggage label or piece of thin cloth pasted on any fracture 

 which may occur. It is essential that the case should be 

 kept intact, and a couple of baggage labels will often save 

 one which otherwise would be a failiire. 



Cases of the size already mentioned will carry approxi- 

 mately 1200 to 1500 seeds to grow on the voyage ; but if 

 year-old plants are packed, only some 100 to 150 can be 

 carried. 



The details of packing can hardly be given in writing, 

 or if so given, would be difficult for any one unacquainted 

 with such work to understand. Packing plants is a 

 speciality, with which many, even good botanists, have 

 not made themselves practically acquainted, but those 

 who wish to witness the work done in proper form should 

 obtain the privilege of seeing the work carried out at such 

 places as the Royal Gardens, Kew, or some of the high- 

 class tropical nurseries of London and Paris, &c., &c. 



Probably the most important point in the transport of 

 plants, is the absolute necessity for a proper consideration 

 of the temperatures through which the plants have to pass 

 en route. Tropical plants and seeds suffer very badly if 

 subjected to low temperatures and they should, if possible, 

 never be sent to pass through them, as if they do they pass 

 at great risk. Of course, at freezing temperature every 

 one naturally expects damage ; but 32° F. is not referred 

 to when speaking of a low temperature here, but tem- 

 peratures of 50° to 55° F. It should be remembered that 

 tropical plants, such as cacao, are grown in a temperature 

 the mean annual of which in Trinidad is some 78° F., 

 mean annual maximum 86° F., and mean annual minimum 

 69° F.* The extreme minimum sometimes runs as low 

 as 60° F. and extreme maximum as high as 93° F. at 

 various times of the year. Therefore when plants or seeds 

 are said to pass a low temperature we reckon that 50 to 

 55° F. is the lowest they can bear with safety. Under 

 exceptional circumstances they may pass with safety 



* From meteorological returns, year 1907, Trinidad record. Decimals not 

 taken. 



