PRESERVING THE SEEDS FOR VEGETATION.
Many attempts to introduce the Tea-tree into Europe have proved unsuccessful, owing to the bad state of the seeds when first procured, or to a want of judgement in preserving them long enough in a state capable of vegetation. If this complaint arise from the first cause, future precautions about such seeds will be in vain; it is therefore necessary to procure fresh, sound, ripe seeds, white, plump, and moist internally.
Two methods of preserving the seeds have put us in possession of a few young plants of the true Tea-tree of China; one is, by inclosing the seeds in bees wax, after they have been well dried in the sun; and the other, by putting them, included in their pods, or capsules, into very close cannisters made of tin and tutenague[70].
Boxes for conveying Plants by Sea.
The Box with plants shut down with the openings
at the ends and front left for fresh air.
The Cask for serving seeds with the
openings defended by Wire.
The Inside of the box shewing the manner of securing the roots of plants surrounded with earth & moss tied with packthread and fasten’d cross & cross with laths or packthread to keep them steady.