Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Horticultural Housekeeping


20th – Employed getting the package from the wharf to Mr Hogg’s, and unpacking the plants.

Tuesday 21st – In the morning went to Flushing [How did he do this? His main base seems to be on Manhattan Island; how does he travel across the East River to Flushing?] and made arrangements with Mr Prince as to taking up the trees; returned in the evening.

Wednesday, October 22nd – Employed all day at Mr Hogg’s, among the plants, securing &c. 
 
Thursday, October 23rd, 1823 – Today employed giving fresh paper to seeds and specimens. Wrote a letter to Joseph Sabine Esq. Called on Mr Thorburn for the purpose of getting ready his parcel.

Douglas is spending a lot of time getting his plant and seed collections in order for the voyage home, although in fact he won't leave for some time yet.  Nevertheless, this is good preparation and a sort of 'dry run' for the much bigger collections he will eventually ship back from the Pacific North West - he doesn't yet know that is where he will be going but he must have an inkling that the Horticultural Society will be planning to send him somewhere


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