12 REPORT OF M. GUILLEMIN. 



of 3,000 young plants, which we carefully arranged in Bam- 

 boo baskets (here called Cestos). To diminish the weight, 

 M. Houlet removed as little soil as possible; but carefully 

 wetted the roots before closing the baskets, and covering them 

 with Banana leaves. In one garden, the largest I have seen 

 devoted to the growth of Tea, but which is not particularly 

 well kept, 1 saw that the spaces between the shrubs were 

 planted with Maize ; and the bordering of the squares which 

 intersect this vast plantation, and the whole of which is 

 enclosed with alleys of Jraucaria Drasiliensis^ is formed of 

 little dwarf Tea plants, which are kept low by cutting their 

 main shoots down to the level of the soil. 



On the 8th of February, I again embarked in the steam- 

 boat to return to Rio Janeiro, and when we came in sight of 

 St Sebastian, I left M. Houlet to proceed to the city alone, 

 charging him to take the very greatest care of our package 

 of Tea plants, as well as of the nursery ground at St Theresa, 

 while 1 should visit the flourishing colony of Ubatuba, inha- 

 bited by French families, who cultivate most successfully 

 Coffte, and other useful vegetables. After a delightful sail 

 through an archipelago of enchanting islands, I landed at 

 Pontagrossa, where I was most kindly received, and spent a 

 week, obtaining much and varied information, both respect- 

 ing cultivated plants, and the kinds of trees which grow 

 spontaneously in the virgin forests of this lovely land, and 

 afford valuable woods for building, cabinet work, and dyeing. 

 Finally, I visited the Tea plantations of M. Vigneron, which 

 are remarkably fine, though their owner finds a much more 

 profitable employment in the growth of Coffee, which is \ei-y 

 lucrative. He kindly gave me a great quantity of young 

 Tea Plants and Chocolate Trees. Reluctantly quitting these 

 worthy colonists, I re-embarked in a Brazilian galliot, which 

 took me back to Rio Janeiro on the close of February. 

 There I found the Tea plants from St Paul, set by M. 

 Houlet, in our garden at St Theresa, and I added to them 

 the stock thai I had brought from Ubalubu. All the 

 vpry young onci had perished on the wa\, bom the exces- 



