Letter from Robert Fortune to the secretary of the Horticultural Society [Alexander Henderson], Regent St, London

Title

Letter from Robert Fortune to the secretary of the Horticultural Society [Alexander Henderson], Regent St, London

Record type

Archive

Original Reference

RHS/Col/8/2/2

Date

23 Aug 1843

Scope & content

Written from Hong Kong, China

Letter No 2. Written on onion-skin paper

He mentioned in his previous letter his intention of visiting Canton [Guangzhou, Guangdong, China] before proceeding to the north in the first vessel he could find going to the eastern coast; he found some plants in the Fa-tee gardens [nursery gardens] in Canton, including the fingered citron; Mr Reeves [John Reeves, naturalist, former East India Company tea inspector in China] had warned him 'of the practice that the Chinese have of putting the fruit of this on other plants', and he found that the gardeners had placed branches with fruit amongst the plants to make them appear more tempting; he also purchased other plants, which 'may turn out new', which he can judge if he collects the plants together in Hong Kong to wait for them to flower: 'this plan may cost the Society a little more', but due to the shortness of his time, should be advantageous; he is hoping to find more varieties in the gardens when he returns in the winter, as many plants will then be in flower; he has spent the last few days waiting in Macao [Macau] and Hong Kong for vessels, and will sail for Amoy [Xiamen, Fujian, China] today on the Sophia, and wait at Amoy for a vessel of Messrs Dent [merchants in China] for Chusan [Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China] and on to Shanghai [China] before the monsoon; the average temperature in the shade has been 82°-90°, and one day he measured with his thermometer 141° in the sun ('[a] curious result'); the plants in Hong Kong are unhealthy and dying

Fortune's expenses for 30 Jul-23 Aug 1843 include 'postage of letters to England' $.0.50, 'dollar boat from Whampoa [Huangpu, Guangzhou, China] to Canton' $4, 'expenses for boat to Fatee gardens and elsewhere during stay at Canton, coolies [indentured workers] &c' $12, 'paid for light clothes for climate' $21.25 and 'washing for one month' $5 [here the list includes 6 more items]

Extent

4 page letter (1 sheet)

Is part of

RHS archive: plant collector papers

Repository

Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library

Copyright

Royal Horticultural Society

Credit Line

RHS Lindley Collections

Usage terms

Non-commercial use with attribution permitted (CC BY-NC 4.0)