Gums, Resins, 



130 



methods of packing to ensure their arrival in good condition. The reports received 

 from the recipients of these seeds have been remarkably good, as the following 

 records will show :— 



Of 7,500 seeds sent to Jamaica on August 31st, were received on November 

 21st, and Mr. Fawcett writes : " The 7,500 seeds sent in biscuit-tins are all germinat- 

 ing very well, and we shall scarcely lose 500 of them." 



One hundred were sent in a similar manner to Calabar on the date July 6th, 

 and arrived on September 20th. 



The acting Secretary writes in reply : " The seeds were soaked in water 

 for two days on their arrival and were then planted with the upper portion left 

 above the soil. Ninety of the hundred seeds have already germinated (November 

 7th), and appear healthy young plants. 



The Royal Gardens, Kew ; 135 seeds were sent on July 6th, packed in 

 charcoal, in a biscuit-tin. They arrived in a month, and 123 germinated. 



On February 12th, 1003 ; 20 seeds were sent to Mr. J. C. Harvey, Vera Cruz, 

 Mexico, who writes, May 19th, 1903, that " out of the 20 seeds of Hevea Brasiliensis 

 I have 11 young plants. They came up in a few days, and possibly a few more 

 may germinate, though three seeds were decayed." 



These were all sent in biscuit-tins. Those sent to Jamaica were packed in 

 slightly damped incinerator earth, but it was necessary to replace the upper 

 part of the packing with sawdust to reduce the weight, as incinerator earth is 

 very heavy and the box, a two-pound tin, which contained 150 seeds, would have 

 been over parcel post weight. 



The other tins were filled with damp charcoal finely powdered. In packing, 

 a certain amount of care is required in damping the charcoal so as to get it equally 

 moistened all through, and not over wet or over dry. This is best done by damp- 

 ing the charcoal thoroughly and then drying it in the sun, constantly stirring and 

 turning it over, till it is uniformly slightly damp. 



The incinerator earth which had been exposed to the elements was damp 

 when received and only wanted partial drying to fit it for packing. Its weight is 

 against its use, but both it and the powdered charcoal have the great advantage 

 of preventing any attacks of mould or bacteria likely to cause decomposition. 



Other experiments with powdered coir fibre, and coir dust, saw dust and 

 variously prepared soils have been tried, but the results do not seem to have ever 

 been as successful. One experiment was made in putting the seeds in water for a 

 month, but though that might be effective for a fortnight or so, they had all 

 perished by the end of the month.- Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and 

 Federated Malay States, January, 1906. 



