Countries, fyc. By Mr. John Lindley. 195 



of the plants, it is necessary that the former should be re- 

 moved as soon and as carefully as possible, with fresh water, 

 and a sponge; otherwise the salt soon kills them. The 

 quantity of water the plants receive must be determined by 

 what can be spared ; so that no other direction for its applica- 

 tion can be given, than to keep the mould just moist. The 

 requisite supply of water must also depend much upon the 

 way in which the cases are drained. The best manner in 

 which this can be effected, is by causing holes about half an 

 inch in diameter to be bored through the bottom of the cases 

 and pots. Much mischief being occasionally done to collec- 

 tions by monkeys and parroquets on board the vessels, it 

 is highly necessary that means should be taken to guard 

 against their attacks. 



Collections are not unfrequently injured after they arrive 

 in this country, by the pots being shaken so violently as to 

 be deprived of a large portion of their mould. Nothing can 

 well be more destructive of vegetable life than this, which 

 should be prevented by the pots being made square so as to 

 fit accurately into the bottom of the outer case. There then 

 could be no difficulty in keeping them steady ; and if they 

 were fastened down by cross pieces of wood, they would be 

 secured still more completely. In addition, the surface of the 

 mould ought to be covered deeply with coarse moss, or other 

 similar substance (not grass,) which might be secured by pack- 

 thread passed frequently across the box from its sides, or by 

 slender laths, which would be less likely to become rotten 

 than packthread. By this means evaporation of the watery 

 particles which are necessary to the existence of the plants, 

 proceeds much less rapidly than when the mould is exposed ; 



