[71] “The carrying of trees cannot be done, with any hope of success, except in boxes, wherein they may vegetate during the voyage. For this purpose it is necessary to have a box forty inches long by twenty broad, and as much in depth, with a dozen holes bored through the bottom, for the superabundant water to run off. Its upper part must be composed of a triangular frame, upon which lattice work of iron wire must be fitted, with glazed frames and window shutters, to keep up a free circulation of air, encrease the warmth when necessary, and keep out the cold.” Pèrouse’s Voyage, Vol. I. p. 283. [72] Another method has succeeded with some North American seeds, by putting them into a box, not made too close, upon alternate layers of moss, in such a manner as to admit the seeds to vegetate, or shoot their small tendrils into the moss. In the passage, the box may be hung up at the roof of the cabin; and, when arrived here, the seeds should be put into pots of mold, with a little of the moss also about them, on which they had lain. This method has procured us seeds in a state fit for vegetation, which had often miscarried under the preceding precautions; and therefore might be tried at least with Tea and other oriental seeds. In order to succeed more certainly, some of the Tea seeds, in whatever manner they may have been preserved, should be sown when the vessel arrives at St. Helena, and also after passing the tropic of Cancer, near the latitude of 30 degrees North. [73] The high price of labour in this country may prove the principal objection to this prospect. In China provisions are very cheap. Osbeck says, that a workman who lives upon plucking of Tea-leaves, will scarce be able to get more than one penny a day, which is sufficient to maintain him. Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 298. [74] The following extract from Gerard’s Herbal, p. 780. ed. 1636. though foreign to the subject of this Essay, is so curious, that it may not be deemed improper to transcribe it. “Potatoes grow in India, Barbarie, Spaine, and other hot regions, of which I planted diuers rootes (that I bought in the Exchange in London) in my garden, where they flourished untill winter, at which time they perished and rotted.” At this date, he adds, “they were roasted in the ashes; some, when they be so roasted, infuse them, and sop them in wine; and others, to give them the greater grace in eating, do boile them with prunes, and so eate them. And likewise others dresse them (being first roasted) with oile, vinegar, and salt, every man according to his own taste and liking.” “These rootes (he observes) may serue as a ground or foundation wheron the cunning confectioner, or sugar-baker, may worke and frame many comfortable delicate conserves, and restorative sweete meates.” In 1664 J. Foster published his “England’s Happyness increased by a Plantation of Potatoes,” 4to.