C 33 1 



emce can feldonl if ever be commanded ; and 

 therefore the plan of a moveable ftage cannot 

 here be expected : from a munificent prince the 

 combination of a company, or a fociety, we mult 

 look for the fupport of fuch an enterprize. 



One method of procuring plants from China 

 has been fuccefsfully adopted by that liberal 

 promoter of horticulture Gilbert Slater Efq. 

 which may be introduced here. He has 

 ordered every curious drawing of Afiatic 

 plants by Chinefe artifts to be procured for him, 

 in the power of fea-faring gentlemen ; thefe 

 drawings are in general not only elegant and ac- 

 curate; but feverally diftinguifhed by their names 

 in Chinefe characters : the characters are copied 

 on Chinefe paper, which being thin and almoft 

 ttanfparent, may be accurately traced, and fuch 

 as refer to rare productions, are diftributed to 

 captains of mips, and other perfons undertaking 

 voyages, with directions to purchafe fuch living 

 plants, as correfpond with the character. Some- 

 times thefe are accompanied with the drawings 

 themfelves. By this circuitous but advantage- 

 ous mode, in a few years he will acquire a col- 

 lection of valuable plants, at prefent not known 

 in Europe. 



It is much to be regretted, that after the moll 

 fcrupulous attention in collecting and tranfport- 

 ing very valuable plants, they {hall ultimately be 

 loft by the tedious procefs of our Cuftom-houfe, 

 employed to prevent fmuggling. I once faw 

 fome fine plants, for which I mould have deemed 

 fifty guineas a cheap purchafe, totallv fpoiled 



F by 



