24 



sions, containing one hundred and fiftyeight species of 

 living plants, of at least eight feet in height, to the quan- 

 tity of five hundred and thirtyfour individuals. All these 

 productions had been procured in the seas of Asia, or 

 gathered on the coast or in the lands of Cayenne. From 

 the commencement of the present century, there had nev- 

 er before been so vast an importation one so extensive 

 in number, for rare genera, species and families, and 

 vegetable productions, or of their seeds. All of them 

 passed under my examination, and they rather appeared 

 to have come out of a green house than from a ship. 



' In this immense collection was the Morus multicoulis, 

 thus called by Perrottet, for the .first time ascertained to 

 be the real Chinese mulberry, Morus alba sinensis, of 

 which every silk grower and culturist should endeavor 

 to multiply the species. It has been deposited in the 

 Royal Garden. Monsieur Perrottet says that it grows 

 with many shoots from the roots, with tender stems and 

 large foliage, of a much more nourishing nature than the 

 European mulberry. 



' Chinese inhabitants assured him, that to this tree the 

 disciples of Confucius are indebted for the prosperity and 

 solidity of their empire. 



' The Morus multicaulis is already propagating in 

 many parts of France, and probably will be substituted 

 and preferred to all the other varieties. Among the other 

 qualities of the plant, it is affirmed in China that a less 

 quantity of this foliage is required for the precious insects 

 than of that which we are obliged to provide for them. 



I have received half a dozen shrubs from Mr Prince's 

 Nursery on Long Island, which comprise six different 



