PLANT COLLECTORS, ETC. 123 



says, 1 " To Mr. Wallen the Island owes the water-cress, 

 chickweed, wild pansy, groundsel, dead-nettle, dandelion, 

 honey-suckle, clover, violet, the English oak ; his garden 

 at Cold Spring is well-stocked with choice selections of 

 introduced flowers, and European trees and shrubs." 

 Mr. East, also, was not content without adding British 

 plants to his garden. His list contains such items as the 

 mullein, primrose, beet, carrot, celery, flax, asparagus, 

 barberry, holly, elder, and London Pride. 



These and other gentlemen were always in touch by 

 letter with Sir Joseph Banks. The attention given to 

 detail, and the zeal with which they urge extension and 

 development, ran parallel with the warmth of their regard 

 for the men who originated these schemes and who con- 

 tinued to lead public spirit in their direction so far away 

 from home. 



Hinton East was so successful with his plantations that, 

 after his death, the Jamaica authorities bought his gar- 

 den for the public use. He was specially desirous of add- 

 ing to the island supply of Economic plants. In a letter 

 to Banks (July, 1784) reporting progress, and offering 

 novel suggestions, he remarks that the acquisition of the 

 Bread-fruit would be " of infinite importance to the West 

 India Islands, in affording a wholesome and pleasant 

 food to our negroes, which would have the great ad- 

 vantage of being raised with infinitely less labour than 

 the plantain, and not be subject to danger from exces- 

 sively strong winds. The time is not very distant when 

 measures will be taken by proper authority for bringing 

 about this desirable event. . . . You have emboldened 

 me, by your very obliging offers, to say that plants of any 

 East Indian spices will be very acceptable." 



The first suggestion of this project seems to come from 

 Valentine Morris. In a letter to Sir Joseph Banks, dated 

 St. Vincent's, April 17, 1772, Captain Morris states that 



1 History of the West Indies, sth ed., I, 293. 



