Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 3]
nature may be relied on for a series of years before the error is detected. And when it is detected, it is plainly seen, that instead of elucidating it has tended to lead astray, and caused a greater difficult and trouble than had it never appeared.
Another matter appears to me that you are not thoroughly informed of, that is the state of the colony with regard to its improvement and increase in agriculture and the introduction of culinary vegetable. My opinion upon this point is thus, that it is of but little use for government sending out plants of the above description, unless they had a proper garden established, and a gardener that thoroughly understands his business to manage it, and who can act according to the dictates of his mind. A man that has been brought up to the nursery business would be the most preferable. I have learned by experience, that this is not a good country to raise plants from the seeds upon common beds, as they are either burned by the sun when in a very tender state, or the earth so beaten down by heavy rains as to prevent them penetrating through it. Shaded quarters ought to be formed, and frames made similar to those of the late Mr Curtis's, in which he put his hardy planting in the winter. These are so constructed that seedlings might be protected from either the violent heat of the sun or the heavy rains.
I have to lament my not knowing that such a large ship as the Glatton would be employed in the concerns of this colony, as I would have had several boxes of living plants ready for to send by such conveyance. As I hear there are more large ones coming, I will take care and have some ready prepared. The box that I have now sent you has been recently filled, but I do not doubt but what they will grow, for on the passage between the Cape of Good Hope & here, I even transplanted some plants, and they grew almost as well as if the same had been done on shore, though our ship was a small one, and we had a deal of bad weather. But these large ships are well calculated to send plant either to or fro the mother country. I must beg the favor of you to request Mr Aiton to make me out a list of such plants that he has already growing, natives of this country, and an account of such which he desires the most.
By my having sent but few new plants, I hardly know which way to go. I have avoided all along from visiting Sydney and Botany Bay too much, as thinking there would be the fewest new ones at those places. Though I am of opinion there are more varieties of plants within the distant of 4 or 5 miles of the coast, than in the space of 30 more inland. And I am afraid it will be a long time before we are acquainted with so much of the interior, so as to meet with a change of the plants. In that part called the Blue Mountains I met with many plants that are common to the environs of Sydney. And it is not