426 On the Transportation of Plants from China to 

 Horticultural Society, experienced mortifications similar to 

 my own. Thus it is evident that plants must be placed un- 

 der the care of those who not only are anxious about them, 

 but who understand how to treat them. 



This season, a private house in England, (Messrs. Barr 

 and Brookes, of Ball's Pond, near Islington), had the spirit 

 to send to China a person well qualified for the undertaking, 

 for the purpose of collecting and taking home plants. The 

 season of the year, when he arrived, was the most unfavour- 

 able for the purpose, and the time which his ship remained, 

 was far too short to enable him to do much ; yet I most 

 sincerely hope that the experiment will prove successful, and 

 deserve imitation. 



From this rapid sketch, I think it may justly be conclu- 

 ded, that no insuperable difficulties lie in the way of con- 

 veying plants in safety from China to England, if they are 

 skilfully planted, watered daily with good water whilst on 

 ship-board, carefully attended to during the passage, and 

 have a speedy delivery secured for them on their arrival in 

 the Thames. To effect these different essential objects, 

 the following particulars require attention : the plants should 

 be collected in proper time, so as to enable them to be 

 firmly rooted in the soil in which they are to be transported 

 to England ; a proper soil should be obtained, wherein they 

 might be planted ; they should be arranged in their chests or 

 boxes, accordingly as they require abundant, frequent, mo- 

 derate, or slight waterings ; when on board, the covers of 

 the chests should be well closed when the spray is flying 

 over the ship, and opened at all times in temperate and fine 

 weather ; the plants shoidd be duly watered with good water, 



