from May 1, 1830, to April 30, 1840. 



875 



I. The introduction of new, useful or ornamental plants. 



This purpose is effected chiefly by the following means : 

 1st. By the employment of special collectors at the Society's 

 expence. 



2nd. By the direct importation of seeds or plants obtained from 



establishments abroad, or from foreign correspondents. 

 3rd. By donations from Fellows or others. 



1st. Foreign Missions. 



In the year 1830 the late Mr. David Douglas, who had already 

 as collector of the Society enriched the country with so many 

 valuable productions of N.W. America, was again absent on a si- 

 milar mission to the same district, and, in the course of an expedi- 

 tion into Upper California from December 1830 till the summer of 

 1832, he made collections of trees, shrubs and ornamental plants of 

 no less importance than those which he had formerly transmitted. 

 From thence his instructions directed him to return to the 

 N.W. Coast, and to further explore the rich western declivities 

 of the Rocky Mountains, but on his arrival at the Sandwich 

 Islands on his way back to the Columbia, he received intelligence 

 that his friend, Mr. Sabine, had resigned the office of Secretary, 

 in consequence of which he was induced by some misconception 

 to resign his own appointment of Collector. And although he 

 did subsequently proceed to the Columbia with the intention of 

 transmitting seeds, &c. to the Society, which the Council would 

 have liberally acknowledged,* yet owing to the unfortunate circum- 

 stances that attended his death two years afterwards in the Sand- 

 wich Islands, when on his return home, whatever he may have then 

 collected has been lost, and the Californian seeds were the last re- 



* The Council did in fact, consider it their duty to honour bills to a considerable 

 amount, drawn by Mr. Douglas subsequently to his resignation. 



