144 America's Crop Heritage

veniently done, they may be taken up with a ball of earth about the roots, and
the roots of each surrounded with wet moss, carefully tied about it to keep the
earth moist. They may afterwards be put into a box, and each plant secured
by laths fastened crosswise above the roots, and the interstices between the
roots filled with wet moss. The same methods may be observed with young
grafted or budded fruit trees.
 "Where the time will permit it is desirable that the roots of the plants
be well established in the boxes in which they are transplanted. Herbaceous
plants require only a short time for this; but, for plants of a woody texture,
two or three months is sometimes necessary.
 "Boxes for the conveyance of plants, or of seeds that are sown, may be
made about two feet broad, two feet deep and four feet long, with small holes
in the bottom, covered with a shell, or piece of tile, or other similar sub-
stance, for letting off any superfluous water. There should be a layer of wet
moss of two or three inches deep at the bottom, or, if they cannot be had,
some very rotten wood or decayed leaves, and upon that about twelve inches
depth of fresh loamy earth, into which the plants that are to be transplanted
should be set. The surface of the earth should be covered with a thin layer
of moss, cut small, which should be occasionally washed in fresh water during
the voyage, both to keep the surface moist, and to wash off mouldiness, or any
saline particles that may be on it.
 "When the boxes are about to be put on board the ship, hoops of wood
should be fastened to the sides, in such a manner that arching over the box,
they may cover the highest of the plants; and over these should be stretched
a net work of pitched cord, so as to protect the plants from external injury,
and prevent the earth from being disturbed by mice or other vermin.
 "To each box should be fastened a canvass cover, made to go entirely
over it, but so constructed as to be easily put on or off, as may be necessary
to protect the plants from the salt water or winds, and sometimes from the
sunshine. Strong handles should be fixed to the boxes that they may be con-
veniently moved.
 "During the voyage, the plants should be kept in a light airy situation;
without which they will perish. They should not be exposed to severe winds,
nor to cold, nor for a long time to too hot a sunshine, nor to the spray of the
salt water. To prevent injury from the saline particles with which the air
is oftentimes charged at sea, (especially when the waves have white frothy
curls upon them) and which, on evaporation, close up the pores of the plants,
and destroy them, it will be proper, when they have been exposed to them,
to wash off the salt particles, by sprinkling the leaves with fresh water.
 "The plants and seeds that are sown, will occasionally require watering
on the voyage; for which purpose rain water is best. If, in any special case,
particular instructions upon this point, or upon any other connected with
the management of the plants during the voyage, be necessary, they should
be made known to those having charge of the plants. But after all, much
will depend upon the judicious care of those to whom the plants may be
confided during the voyage.
 "Plants of the succulent kind, and particularly of the bulbous family
should not be planted in earth, but in a mixture of dry sand, old lime,