Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 4]
separate paper and will Seldom fail to grow.
Dry Seeds are more difficult to preserve they must be gatherd in the afternoon of a fine day, from Such plants as have come to perfect Maturity, they are then to be dried by Exposing them to the open air, in a Shady place, for two or three days, after which they may be put up for - their voyage, either in wax or in mould in the following manner, if in the former melt your wax over the fire; then take it of, and when it is come to that Consistence between hardness, and Softness, So that it may be - Kneaded by the hands without burning them; take your seeds and mixing them with it, Knead them up together into Cakes, taking care if Possible, that each Seed is Closely Cover'd by Wax on Every Side; Every Species of Seed should have to itself one of these Cakes, which if form'd into a Cube will pack very easily and neatly in a Box, in which manner they may be sent home.
This method is paticularly Appropriated to Nuts, Acorns, and such Sorts of fruits.
For the Second method take common vegetable Mould and drying it thouroughly in an oven, mix with each kind of Seed, about ten times its Bulk of Such Earth, then put each sort into a Seaparate Small Wooden Box, or Gally Pot, which latter may be tied over with leacther but must not be Cork'd up. It is of the utmost importance in Ehatever way Seeds are Sent, that they are fresh when put up, and that they are Sent away as Soon as possible; it those which have been gatherd one Season Arrive with us in the Beginning of next, we are almost Certain of Success, but Some there are which if kept beyond the natural time of Sprouting, Cannot by any art yet discovered be preserved; The Boxes in which the Seeds are Contain'd, Should be Stow'd in the coolest part of the Ship which is ge=nerally the Capt: Cabbin, but must not be put in any Part of it where they may be Exposed too the Sun.
The other method, viz: of bringing home growing plants in Boxes is more certain, but it is likewise more Difficult, and in places above 3 or 4 Days Journey from the Sea allmost Impossible; the Boxes made use of are generally Double Cubes, that is of any given Height as broad as the are high, and twice as Long; the most Convenient are of such a Size as two men Can Easily Carry by the Rope Handles which are fastned at each End.
These Should be filld about half full of Mould, and the plants intended to be sent planted in it, Some months before they are to go; that no plant may be sent, which is not firmly Rooted in the Earth; when the time of Sending them is Come, nail Hoops to the Sides of the Box in such a manner that arching over it they may Cover the highest of the plants, and twist between hoops Small ropes in the form of a net to prevent the dogs or Cats from getting them up
A81