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2708. rach 'mg and conveying plants in pots. Plants in pots arc packed among moss
in boxes, witli thcir tops covered with a not, and sent to any distance where the climate
will not injure them, and where wator is supplied. Where the climate is severe, they
arc covered with a glazed tegument ; and thus glass cases or temporary hothouses are
employed in ships to carry tender plants from this comitry to tho colder colonies, and to
hring plants from tho wai-mer colonies home. Stove-plants arc also transported from
Erancc, Holland, and Hamburgh into Germany and Eussia, in waggons with glass
covers.
2709. In packing plants fo r importation, much more care is requisite than has in
general^ boon bestowed on the subject. “ It is thought enough,” Lmdley observes
(Hort. Trans., vol. v. p. 192.), “ to tear a plant from its native soil, to plant it in fresh earth,
to fasten it in a wooden case, aud put it on board a vossol.” Nothing can be more
erroneous ; preparatory to packing, the plants should have thoir roots weU established iu
pots or boxes, which may, in woody kinds, require from one to tlu'ce months. Boxes
with proper perforations in the bottom arc better than pots, because less liable to break,
and of less weight. When the period for embarking them arrives they should be placed
ill wooden cases, the tops of which must he oapalile of being opened, and should slope
both ways, like the roof of a double grecnhoiiso. These cases must be fm-nished with
a tarpawling, fixed along tlicir tops, and sufflciently large, when unrolled, to cover them
completely, so as to protect the plants from being damaged by the salt wmter dashing
over them in rough weather. I t cannot be expected that h e a iy cases should meet with
very gentle treatment on sliipboard ; and it is certain they will be bandied in the
roughest manner by watermen, caiters, and custom-house offlccrs, after they have arrived
in port. Tho materials, therefore, of which they arc made, ought to bo of a very strong
description, and the joints of the lower part either secured by iron bands, or well dove-
tniiod together. The person in charge of the cases on board should havo directions
never to exclude them from air and light in fine weather, unless to protect them from
the cold, as the vessel makes the land, and after she is in port, or during high winds, or
especially when the seamen are washing the decks ; but in foul weather”to close the iids
down, and to unroll the tarpawling over the latter, so as to exclude the sea-spray
effectually. If, notwithstanding tliese précautions, salino particles should become
incrustod upon the loaves and stems of the plant, it is necessaiy that the former slioiild
bo removed as soon and as carefully as possible, witb fresh water and a sponge, otherwise
the salt will soon kill them. The quantity of water tho plants receive mnst be
dctcrmined by what can bo spared ; so that no other direction for its application can be
given, than to keep the mould just moist. The requisite supply of water must also
depend much upon the way iu which tho cases arc drained. The best maimer in wliich
this can be effected, is by cansing holes about half an inch in diameter to be bored
through the bottom of the cases and pots. Much miscliicf being occasionally done to
collections by monkeys and parroqucts on hoard the vessels, it is liighly necessary that
means should be taken to guard against thcir attacks.
2710. Collections are not unfrequently injured, after they arrive in this country, by tho
Its being shaken so violently as to be deprived of a large portion of thcir mould
othmg can well be more destructive of vegetable life than this, which should he prevented
by tbe pots being made square, so as to fit accurately into the bottom of tho
outer case. There then could be no difficulty in keeping them steady ; and if they were
flistcnod down by cross pieces of wood, they would be scoured still more completely. In
addition, tho surface of tho mould ought to bo covered deeply with coarse moss or other
similar substance (not grass), which might be secured by packthread passed frequently
across tho box from its sides, or by slender laths, which would be less likely to become
rotten than packthread. By these means, evaporation of the watery particles which are
necessary to the existence of the plants, proceeds much less rapidly than when the mould
JS exposed ; and tho latter has an additional security against being shaken out of the
pots. When it happens that pots are not to be procured, the want of them must bo supplied
by tho collection being planted in earth in the cases themselves, thcir bottom beino-
previously strewed to the depth of 1 in. or 2 in. with fragments of earthenware or bits
of wood. In such cases, it is partictüary necessary that the mould should be secm-elv
fastened down.
2711. Orchidaceous Epiphytes, or, as they are commonly called, air plants, may be
transported safely to any distance, by being packed loosely in moss, and put into boxes
so constructed that the plants may be exposed to a free admission of air, but protected
from the sea-water.
2712. H a a s travel most securely if they are packed in paper or canvas baws they
havmg been previously dried, till all the moisture in their outer coats is evaporated
Dry sand is a good medium for placing them in, if opportunities should not hav!
oocun-od of giving them the necessary oxposiirc to the sun. But minute bulbs such as
those of i.xia,s, gladioluses, oxaliscs, and others of a similar kind, only requfre to be folded
in separate little parecls witliout any previous preparation. Terrestrial Orchidece should
be transplanted when in ilowcr, and not when their roots ave in a state of rest.
2713. Any woody or hony seeds, or capsules, that may have been procured, should be
buried among the mould in which plants arc p o tted ; or any of those seeds, the juices of
which become rancid soon after gathering, such as those of the Guttiferm, Magnoliaccic,
Stcrculiaccaj, &c. Camelha seeds, which are not readily transported, if sown in mould
in China, will have become seedling plauts before they reach this country. Acorns and
walnuts may be conveyed from hot countries much better in this way than in any other.
Palms, too, are better sent in this way than in bags or paper. The plants in all cases,
if possible, should have numbers punched upon small pieces of thin shcct-lead, and
fastened round the subjects to which they belong with fine iron or copper wire. When
such lead is not to be procured, little wooden tallies should be used instead. (Hurt.
Trans., vol. v, p. 194.)
2714. Packing and transporting roots of plants, or entire plants in a dormant state, is
a very simple operation. AVlien the distance docs not exceed a week’s journey, they are
packed in straw, and covered with mats ; if a longer period is required, the roots arc enveloped
in earth or moss; but very moist moss is not desirable, as it occasions mouldiness,
and rots off tho bark of the roots when it begins to dry. Regard in all cases must be had
to the kind of plant, season of the year, distance, time, and mode of carriage.
C h a p . IV.
Ojierations relative to the fin a l Products desired o f Gardens, and Garden-scenery.
2715. The objects o f gardening arc certain vegetable productions, and certain beauties
and effects in respect to design and taste. Wc now propose to notice the general principles
by which the gardener ought to be guided, in directing operations for the attainment
of these e n d s ; also tho mode of conducting the business of a garden in an orderly
manner ; and the loading points of attention requisite to insure the beauty aud order of
garden scenciy.
S e c t . I. O f the vegetable Products desired o f Gardens.
2716. The vegetable productions o f gardens are fruits, seeds, roots, stems, and stalks,
leaves, flowers, bai-k, wood, and entire plants.
2717. Fruits. All plants require to attain the age of piibcrty, before they will produce
fruits or seeds. In annuals, as in the melon, this happens in a few weeks or
months ; in trees, as the pear, it requires sevcrai years. The first object is to induce the
growth of sound tissue ; the next, tlie production of blossom buds ; the third, to induce
the blossoms to set or fecundate ; and the fourth, to swell and ripen the fruit. New
fruits are procured from seeds properly produced and selected ; and arc continued in
trees by grafting or budding ; in perennials, by slips or ru n n ers; and in annuals, by
seeds. The quality of fruits is improved by abundant supplies of nourisliment, by
increased air, light, and heat, by pruning, tlhnihng, and other me ans; thcir bulk by
moisture ; and thcir flavour by withholding moisture ancl increasing light, heat, and air.
Fruit is preserved by placing it in a low dry tcmpcratm:e, burying it in the eai'th, or
di'ying it in the sun.
2718. Seeds are the essential part of fmit, or constitute tho entire fruit, and are produced
on the same general principle. Those produced for culinai’y purposes in gardening
ai'e chiefly from annuals, and are used green, as the pea, bean, Indian cress, &c. ;
but seeds of almost all garden vegetables are occasionally procluccd for the sake of propagating
the species. Here attention is requisite to make choice of a proper stock, and
to place it so as not to be in danger of impregnation from other allied species, which
might hybridise the progeny ; to thin out supei-fluous blossoms; to remove leafy or
barren exuberances, or bulbs, tubers, or other productions which might lessen tho
nom-ishmcnt devoted to the production of the seed. Seeds of common forest-trces are
not gcneraliy subjected to such careful management as those of lierbaceous vegetables
or rarer tre e s ; but, wherever improved kinds are desired, the samo practices are applicable.
Light, air, and a free exposure, with dry, warm weather, ai-e essential to the
propel- ripening of seeds. Tliey are preserved in a di-y, cool temperature, like fru it; and,
if perfectly excluded from air and moisture, will never vegetate ; but the vital principle
of most seeds is but of short duration.
2719. Boots, to be produced in perfection, require a deep, wcll-pulvcriscd, pliable,
porous soil, and moderate moisture. The plants should, in all cases, be prevented from
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