[ 396 ] 



XLIV. Upon the proper management of Plants during 

 their Voyage from China to England. In a Letter ta the 

 Secretary. By Mr. John Damper Parks, F. H. S. 

 Gardener to the Earl of Arran, F. II. S. at Bognor, 

 Sussex. 



Read February 5, 1828. 



Sir, 



I beg leave to lay before the Society the result of the ex- 

 perience I acquired in managing living plants on ship-board 

 during my voyage to China, in the service of the Society, in 

 the spring of 1823. The kind of case which I found most con- 

 venient was an oblong square box with a span glass roof, 

 such as is recommended by Mr. Lindley in the fifth volume 

 of the Transactions, page 192, to the representation of which in 

 that place I refer. Its width inside should be about eighteen 

 inches, so as to receive two rows of square wooden pots made 

 to fit in accurately. The glazed sides of the roof should be 

 moveable, and hinged to the case by their lower edge ; and, 

 if possible, they should be fitted with transparent oyster shells, 

 such as can readily be procured at Macao, instead of glass. 

 Hooks should be adapted to the ends, for the purpose of keep- 

 ing the glazed sides open in fine weather. The bottom of the 

 case should be double, with a cavity of half an inch, to allow 

 for the running off of salt water in case it gets in when the 

 decks are washed. The whole should be covered by a water- 

 tight tarpauling, without which it would be impossible to 

 keep the cases on deck, which is much the best place. 



When the plants are put into the box the whole of the 



