120 



TRANSMISSION OF LIVING PLANTS BY SEA. 



Eighteen cases were packed in the manner I have already 

 recommended and taken on board of the 1 John Cooper/ then 

 at anchor in the Bay of Hong Kong. As it was in the end of the 

 year, the monsoon was fair down the China Sea, and we reached 

 the Island of Java in eleven days. After passing the Straits of 

 Sunda we had variable winds for a week or ten days, and then 

 got into the south-east trades. In these latitudes the weather is 

 generally settled and fine, the sea is smooth, and the vessel is 

 wafted gently onward in her course towards the Cape of G ood 

 Hope. In ordinary circumstances, therefore, it is perfectly safe 

 to open the cases frequently during this part of the voyage. 

 Those under my care at this time were made with sliding-doors 

 at each end, so that I could give air and get my hand in without 

 unscrewing the sides, These slides were drawn out almost every 

 day in the morning after decks were washed, and on very fine 

 days the side- sash of each case was unscrewed and the plants 

 fully exposed. At these times all the dead or damping leaves 

 were removed and the surface of the soil dressed and cleaned. 

 I always made it a rule never to leave any of them open at 

 night, however fine the night might appear to be. 



This mode of treatment was carried on until we began to get 

 near to Madagascar. As bad weather is generally experienced 

 off this island, I made all the cases tight as possible with 

 putty, and never opened them again until we got round the 

 Cape. After the " Cape of Storms " is passed, the mariner 

 generally gets again into fine weather, and with a fair south-east 

 trade wind runs direct for St. Helena. Knowing that I would 

 be able to procure a supply of fresh water there, I exposed the 

 plants as much as possible every day, in order that all the 

 dampness might be removed, and that the young wood which 

 was then formed on many of the plants might be well hardened. 

 When we anchored at St. Helena I took care to give the soil as 

 much fresh water as it could take in, and then screwed the sashes 

 down again. The weather continued fine and the winds fair 

 until we reached the equator. During this time the end slides 

 were generally open every day. When near the equator we 

 again got into variable winds, having run out of the " trades," 

 and were frequently deluged with heavy rains. At these times I 

 was in the habit of opening the sashes and allowing the plants to 

 receive a refreshing shower, which did them a great deal of 

 good. In circumstances of this kind, however, great care should 

 be taken that the water does not come down out of some of the 

 sails which have been exposed to the salt spray of the ocean, as 

 it would then be impregnated with salt, and would probably 

 injure or destroy the plants. I notice this more particularly, as 

 an accident of the kind nearly happened to myself. 



