Early American Agriculture


poses and for testing agricultural plants. This garden continued
as a public institution up to the Revolutionary War. Although
silk production was later subsidized, only rice and indigo became
staple crops. Many tropical plants were found to be unsuited
to the Georgia climate. (6)
 The famous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in west London,
made many contributions to America through its pioneer work
in plant introduction. Founded in 1760, the garden was dedi-
cated to botanical study by the British royal family, and assisted
in the spread of valuable plants among the British colonies.
George III increased the original nine acres in 1772, and the Earl
of Bute was made scientific advisor. On the death of Bute, Sir
Joseph Banks became director. Banks held his post for forty-eight
years, and became known as the guiding genius of Kew. He sent
the first professional plant hunter, Francis Masson, to Africa in
1772. For three successive years Masson returned to Africa where
he collected about a hundred new species of plants. He later
explored for many years in the West Indies and South America.
 Plant explorer, David Nelson, took part in the explosive drama
of the mutiny on the Bounty. On a previous voyage in 1771,
Nelson had been a member of Captain Cook's third expedition,
exploring for plants in Tasmania. The ill-fated Bounty expedi-
tion was sent out to introduce the seedless breadfruit tree into
the West Indies as food for slaves. Nelson died from exposure
after the mutineers had captured the Bounty and set him adrift
in a small boat with Captain Bligh.

 WORK OF JOHN ELLIS
 Prior to the American Revolution, the British were interested
in introducing agricultural crops into the colonies. John Ellis
in his first book, published in 1770,7 told how to pack seeds to
prevent them from spoiling on long sea voyages. Ellis depended
especially on packing the seeds in beeswax.
 At that time, it was thought best to procure seeds from the
resident-factors in China. China was considered-as it still is-a
rich source of new plants. Missionaries were mentioned as able
to give information on where to secure the most valuable seeds

 'Directions for Bringing Over Seeds and Plants . with a Catalogue of Such
Foreign Plants as are Worthy of Being Encouraged in Our American Colonies ....
Ellis' second book was titled Some Additional Observations on the Method of
Preserving Seeds from Foreign Parts, for the Benefit of our American Colonies-
with an Account of the Garden at St. Vincent....