TRANSMISSION OF LIVING PLANTS BY SEA. 



119 



there or not sent at all. The main or mizen top is sometimes 

 recommended, but most captains object to have such heavy- 

 articles placed so high above the decks. 



In 1841 or 1842 the Horticultural Society received a case of 

 plants by the ' Emu/ from Van Diemen's Land, the whole of 

 which were dead when they reached this country. As I hap- 

 pened, in 1843, to go out to China by the same vessel, I made 

 some inquiries of one of the officers regarding the treatment this 

 case had received on board during the passage home. He 

 candidly told me that they had considered it too much in the 

 way when on the poop, and had sent it forward near the bows. 

 When, therefore, the vessel was " on a wind," or had a heavy head 

 sea to contend with, she shipped a great quantity of water over 

 the bows, and, of course, deluged the poor plants. This at once 

 accounted for the bad order in which the case had been received. 

 I should therefore recommend botanical collectors, and those 

 individuals who are in the habit of sending home cases of plants 

 from the far distant East to their friends in Europe, to obtain a 

 promise from the captain that the cases shall remain upon the 

 poop of the vessel during the whole of the voyage. If they are 

 sent forward, or even placed upon the quarter deck, the contents 

 are sure to be destroyed. It is also the best way to ship the 

 cases in the usual business manner, taking a bill of lading for the 

 same, with the freight payable in England, or in any other place 

 to which the ship may be bound. 



Unless there is some one on board who understands the cul- 

 tivation of plants, the cases should never be opened from the 

 time they are shipped until they arrive at their destination. 

 The only directions I was in the habit of giving when I took the 

 plants on board, were the following : — (i Do not move them from 

 the poop ; never allow them to be opened ; should any accident 

 happen to the glass repair it immediately, either with glass, or, 

 where that cannot be had, a piece of thin board will answer the 

 purpose ; in stormy weather, when there is any probability of 

 spray coming over the poop, throw an old sail over the cases ; 

 and, lastly, never allow the sailors to throw a drop of water over 

 them when they are washing decks in the morning" These 

 directions are short, easily understood, and easily acted upon. 



Treatment during the Voyage. — When the botanical 

 collector returns with his plants, or when there is any one on 

 board of the ship who understands their management, the cases 

 may be opened and the plants examined from time to time with 

 the most beneficial results. In order that those who are going 

 out or returning from the East may understand how this is best 

 done, I shall detail, shortly, my own practice during the voyage 

 home, and its results. 



