27 



time in the Annales de la Societie Linnenne de Paris 

 for 1824, appears to have originated in the elevated 

 regions of China ; from whence it has been disseminated 

 throughout the low plains near the sea shore. It is be- 

 lieved it is cultivated in all parts of that vast empire, 

 where the education of the silk worm is an object of 

 commercial importance. From Canton it was introduced 

 into Manilla and all the Islands in the Asiatic Archipel- 

 ago, where it was only cultivated for ornamenting gar- 

 dens. The Chinese are entitled to the credit of this in- 

 troduction, who in emigrating from their country have 

 from motives of industry, endeavored to multiply it, that 

 they might render it useful to them, in the new country 

 of their adoption. 



' The fortunate discovery of this precious shrub occur- 

 red in the garden of a Chinese cultivator at Manilla, 

 who, after having informed us of its properties, and the 

 important purpose for which it was used in his own 

 country, yielded to our solicitations and sold us two 

 bushes for ten Spanish piastres, assuring us that he had 

 introduced it into Manilla, where it had been considera- 

 bly extended. 



' In August we brought it from Manilla, the capital of 

 the Phillippine Islands, and first introduced it into the 

 Isle of Bourbon, from thence into Cayenne and France. 

 At a later period it was sent from Cayenne to Martinique, 

 and from France to Guadaloupe, and also to Senegal, 

 where it has been considerably multiplied. The numer- 

 ous plants which are already disseminated in the divers 

 climates of Africa, America, and Europe have been all 

 3 



