In either case they should be properly marked, and referred 

 to in the descriptive notes which accompany them. 



When plants cannot be propagated from seeds with a 

 certainty of their possessing the same qualities which long 

 culture or other causes may have given them, they may be 

 sent in a growing state. For this purpose, they should be 

 taken up when young. Those, however, who are acquainted 

 with their cultivation in the countries where they grow, will 

 know at what age they may be safely and advantageously 

 removed. They may be transplanted direct into the boxes 

 in which they are to be conveyed; or, where that cannot be 

 conveniently done, they may be taken up with a ball of earth 

 about the roots, and the roots of each surrounded with wet 

 moss, carefully tied about it to keep the earth moist. They 

 may afterwards be put into a box, and each plant secured 

 by laths fastened crosswise above the roots, and the inter- 

 stices between the roots, filled with wet moss. The same 

 methods may be observed with young grafted or budded 

 fruit trees. 



Where the time will permit, it is desirable that the roots 

 of the plants be well established in the boxes in which they 

 are transplanted. Herbaceous plants require only a short time 

 for this; but, for plants of a woody texture, two or three 

 months is sometimes necessary. 



Boxes for the conveyance of plants, or of seeds that are 

 sown, may be made about two feet broad, two feet deep, 

 and four feet long, with small holes in the bottom, covered 

 with a shell, or piece of tile or other similar substance for 

 letting off any superfluous water. There should be a layer 

 of wet moss of two or three inches deep at the bottom, or, 

 if that cannot be had, some very rotten wood or decayed 

 leaves, and upon that about twelve inches depth of fresh 

 loamy earth, into which the plants that are to be transplanted 

 should be set. The surface of the earth should be covered 

 with a thin layer of moss cut small, which should be occa- 

 sionally washed in fresh water during the voyage, both to 

 keep the surface moist, and to wash off mouldness or any 

 saline particles that may be on it. 



When the boxes are about to be put on board the ship, 

 hoops of wood should be fastened to the sides, in such a 

 manner, that, arching over the box, they may cover the 



