344 On the Growth of Plants without exposure to open Air. [April 



is finally closed ; while on the other hand, succulent plants should be 

 set in dry sand. I need not, however, dilate upon this, any further than 

 by observing that the natural condition of the species should be imitat- 

 ed, as far as possible, except in the free exposure to air. The smaller 

 species of Cacti will travel well, suspended in my cases, without any 

 mould. The larger species, according to Loddiges, should be packed, 

 in very fine and dry sand. All vegetable matters, used as package, are 

 very injurious. 



" You ask how the tropical Orchidece may be best conveyed : — most 

 certainly in the glazed cases : I believe, that, thus secured, ninety-five 

 out of every hundred may be imported in a vigorous state from any 

 part of the world, provided the voyage does not exceed eight or ten 

 months in duration. 



" In all instances, the plants require no attention during the voyage % 

 the sole care requisite being to keep them in the light. 



" You next enquire, what plan 1 would suggest, where glazed, boxes 

 are not procurable, and here I must give you higher authority than my 

 own, that of Messrs. Loddiges, who find the means adopted by your 

 American correspondent, the most eligible, viz., that of packing them in 

 moderately moist Sphagna ;— always excepting the succulent plants. 



" Would it not be advisable to direct the attention of your collectors, 

 particularly, to the introduction of such plants as have never yet been 

 seen alive in this country, owing to the impossibility of importing them 

 in the old method ? Every species of Trichomanes and Uymenoplajliam 

 might thus become inmates of our stoves, as well as a number of other 

 interesting plants, which possess oily nuts or seeds, that quickly lose 

 their germinating property, after they are ripe. These seeds might be 

 sown in the mould among the other plants, and would come up during 

 the voyage. All the Palms and Bertholletia, &c, would succeed admir- 

 ably in this way. 



" I may remark, that there is one point, upon which misconception 

 exists very generally, even among well informed men. Because my 

 cases are made quite tight, it is imagined, that the plants contained in 

 them receive no change of air. Now, it must be obvious to every one 

 who reflects for an instant on the subject, that owing to the expansibi- 

 lity of the air by heat, there must, with every change of temperature, 

 be a corresponding change in the volume of air contained within the 

 cases. "Without such a variation, the plants would, in all probability, 

 soon perish." N. B. Ward. 



Hobart Town, Nov. 23, 1833. 

 Sir, — You will, I am sure, be much pleased to hear, that your experi- 

 ment for the preservation of plants alive, without the necessity of water, 

 or open exposure to the air, Yv&s fully succeeded. 



