1 Frs., 1898. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 139 
flowers. In the case of orchids, which we always want in any quantity, it will 
be better to dry them slightly in some place out of the sun, and then pack them 
looseiy in a well-ventilated basket, box, or even a sack, and despatch. 
Ferns and other plants must be kept moist at the rocts, in one of the 
many ways which will suggest themselves to any intelligent person. « capital 
“bush” plan for sending plants long distances is to take a sheet of bark a 
little longer than the plants, and lay the latter in, packing around the roots 
with any absorbent material to hand, such as moss, the peaty bases of staghorn 
ferns, half-deeayed leaves, or anything which will hold the moisture, or, if 
nothing better is available, with earth. Then draw the sheet of bark up around. 
the plants, secure them to prevent falling out, and, bringing the two edges of 
the bark as near together as you can, tie it in afew places. Then put another 
sheet on top, and securely fasten, so as to make a cylinder in two pieces. 
A piece of bark must be put in at roots to prevent the material used for pack- 
ing from falling out. This is better done before the parcel is finally secured. 
Of course a cylinder of bark stripped from a tree or sapling may also be 
used. ‘The writer has carried plants packed in this way for weeks, with some 
attention, and then sent them a considerable distance; they arrived at their 
destination in good order. Joints of green bamboo are good to pack small 
plants in. lowers carry a long distance if closed up tightly in these. 
Native birds are also useful for our aviary. It is desired to form as good 
a collection as possible of these; and any which can be sent will be very 
acceptable. 
Anything which may be intended for the Gardens can be placed on rail 
or boat, addressed to the Curator. Arrangements will be made at this end as 
regards freight. 
When anything is about to be despatched, it would be well to advise the 
Curator by postcard or letter. ; 
Other seeds than those mentioned below are being constantly added to 
our stock. Early application is necessary, as many seeds goon lose their 
germinating power, and consequently are not kept long in stock. 
To describe the methods of sowing and cultivating every separate plant 
referred to below would take up a great deal of space, and could not be 
properly done within the limits of this Journal. A few hints on seed-sowing 
with special reference to those seeds will not, however, come amiss. 
On asimall seale the best way to raise seeds is in boxes. J ruit-boxes, or 
the cases in which corrugated iron is imported, will suit very well. <A light 
shelter can be easily run up with afew forked sticks for uprights; in the 
forks can be laid a few long bush poles; a covering of ti-tree twisted amongst 
these, and you have a shade-house quite as effectual as the most elaborate 
structure. A great mistake is usually made in making those shade covers too 
dense. Almost all shade-houses are made too dark, and plants refuse to grow 
in them. All the shade-houses in the Botanic Gardens are covered extremely 
lightly, just enough to make a kind of broken light, and you will notice that 
the most delicate plants flourish with a luxuriance which it would be hard to 
excel. A shade-house for seed-growing should be low, otherwise the young 
seedlings will become drawn and unhealthy. If you can spare the time to 
excavate a walk about three feet deep all the better, because then you can 
walk freely under your roof, and work conveniently at your seed-boxes on both 
sides without stooping, whilst perfect drainage is provided. The walk must, 
of course, be drained. In the Journal it is hoped to publish shortly a plan and 
section of a seed-raising shade-house in which hundreds of thousands of seeds 
have been successfully raised here within the past year. 
In the article on Logwood seed in last month’s issue will be found direc- 
tions for preparing and draining seed-boxes, and this will apply to preparations 
to be made for most seeds. The following brief rules will be found useful :— 
1. Provide free drainage. 
2. Provide light soil with plentiful admixture of leaf mould. 
