JOURNAL OF BOTANY. 



I Report of M. Guillemin, Botanical Assistant at the 



Museum of Natural History, presented to the Blinister of 

 Agriculture and Commerce on the subject of the Expedition to 

 Brazil, undertaken principally with the vieiv to obtain infor- 

 mation respecting the cidture and preparation of the '1'f.a 

 Plant, and the introduction of this Shrub into France. 

 \_Translated and abridged from the French.*] 



Sir, — I had the honour to receive your orders that I should 

 proceed to Rio Janeiro, for the purpose of procuring seeds 

 and growing plants of tlie Tea, in such quantities as should 

 permit of this shrub being cultivated, as an experiment on a 

 large scale, in different parts of France ; and in order to pro- 

 mote my views, you further directed that M. Houlet, under- 

 head-gardener at the hothouses of the Museum, should accom- 

 pany nie. The Minister of the Marine was requested to give 

 M. Houlet and myself a passage in a ship of war, and the 

 French Minister Plenipotentiary at the court of Brazil 

 received instructions for despatching the chests which should 

 contain the plants and seeds of Tea, in order that these should 

 reach France about the month of June, 1839. 



From time to time during my absence I have had the 

 honour to communicate with you, and I now hasten to inform 

 you that the cases of Tea plants have reached Paris, and 

 that I shall be glad to receive your orders respecting their 

 distribution and destination. I may mention, that during 

 the short period which intervened between my sailing orders 



* Inserted in the Revue Agricole, I6me iivraison. 

 Joiirn. of Bot. Vol. HI. No. IT, Oct. 1S40. r. 



