Appendix 1 



Circular Letter and Report of 1827 



Secretary Richard Rush's Letter (Circular) and Dr. J.M. 

 Staughton's Report on Plant Collection, Preservation, 

 and Shipment for the Columbian Institute's Botanic 

 Garden* 



CIRCULAR 



To a Portion of the Consuls of the United States 



TREASURY DEPARTMENT 



September 6, 1827 



SIR: 



The President is desirous of causing to be introduced 

 into the United States all such trees and plants from other 

 countries not heretofore known in the United States, as may 

 give promise, under proper cultivation, of flourishing and 

 becoming useful, as well as superior varieties of such as are 

 already cultivated here. To this end I have his directions to 

 address myself to you, invoking your aid to give effect to 

 the plan that he has in view. Forest trees useful for timber; 

 grain of any description; fruit trees; vegetables for the table; 

 esculent roots; and, in short, plants of whatever nature 

 whether useful as food for man or the domestic animals, 

 or for purposes connected with manufactures or any of the 

 useful arts, fall within the scope of the plan proposed. A 

 specification of some of them to be had in the country where 

 you reside, and believed to fall under one or other of the 

 above heads, is given at the foot of this letter, as samples 

 merely, it not being intended to exclude others of which you 

 may yourself have knowledge, or be able, on inquiry, to 

 obtain knowledge. With any that you may have it in your 

 power to send, it will be desirable to send such notices of 



* From the Daily National Intelligencer, November 17, 1827, p. 2. 



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