Letter from J. Reeves [John Reeves, naturalist, former East India Company tea inspector in China] [to John Lindley, assistant secretary of the Horticultural Society of London]

Information

Title
Letter from J. Reeves [John Reeves, naturalist, former East India Company tea inspector in China] [to John Lindley, assistant secretary of the Horticultural Society of London]
Record type
Archive
Original Reference
RHS/Col/8/1/4
Date
c.1842
Scope & content
No address. Undated [c. Dec 1842]

Following on from their conversation of yesterday, he suggests looking at the drawings he sent to the Society from Macao [Macau] and Canton [Guangzhou, Guangdong, China], especially 'those upon the smaller size papers', to see how many of them are unknown; hardy plants will be more valuable; many of the 'better kinds of camellias' can be found in Fokien [Fujian, China], and are sent to Canton from there; the Euryoides were from plants grafted there 'expressly' for Reeves and sent to him to Canton; Lilium, Narcissus, epiphytes and orchideous plants also come from that province; 'but how to get them home? If I explain the causes of my failure, they may be some guide to you'; the East India Company secretaries were obliged to remain in Canton during the business season for 'examining, receiving and shipping teas', after which they returned to Macao [Macau] for the summer; thus even though he saw the flowers and had sketches made of them, he could only rarely obtain any seeds; he tried potting plants, but they usually had to be left behind; 'do not suppose a Chinese servant [...] would merit them of value enough to attend to during our absence'; any gardener should therefore remain for at least 12 months; the additional expense of staying could be covered by sending back live plants, seeds and specimens; Fortune should collect any seeds he can himself from hedges, ditches, fields and ruins, as 'the Chinese will not pay attention to them, calling them weeds'; he has found various roses, and has had other plants including Nepenthes brought to him 'by baskets full'; he refers to the drawing 113
Extent
4 page letter (1 sheet)
Is part of
RHS archive: plant collector papers
Repository
Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library
Copyright
Adrian Goodman
Credit Line
Courtesy Adrian Goodman / RHS Lindley Collections
Usage terms
Non-commercial use with attribution permitted (CC BY-NC 4.0). No cropping or text overlay.