Notice respecting the Proper manner of Preserving the PlantsPut on board the Thames East Indiaman by order of the Court ofdirectors to be carried to China', 9 April 1806 (Series 88.02) - No. 0004

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does will not happen if the supply is well Regulated, the best Criterion to decide whether or not water should be given to a Plant is the appearance of the mould in on the top of the box in which it is placd, unless this is dry & dusty at the top there is since for the  water enough below, indeed if on removing the earth with a finger half an inch deep the earth it gives at that depth plain signs of moisture the watering ought to be Postpond till the next day

    if a Butt of garden mould is taken on board, Capt Wilsons ingenious method of freeing water Caught from the Rigging in Rainy weather from its Tarry Taste, may be resorted to, a false bottom full of holes and about 2 inches from the Real bottom of a Butt and a Pipe to pass the water down into the space between thems false & the true bottom is all the opperating necessary if about 3 or 4 feet of clean garden mould is Laid upon this False bottom & the Tarry water passd down under the Pipe into  the hollow below it will rise through the Earth freed from its Tarry taste, if it tastes Quite Sweet  well it may be usd for watering Plants, but if any Taste of Tar remains it must not be so applied as Tarry water impregnated with Tar is an absolute  certain Poison to vegetables