Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.
Sample Book Insights:
#1 In 1845, Robert Fortune was sent to China to collect samples of the Orientâs botanical treasures. He was in the last days of a three-year expedition to China, conducted at the behest of the Royal Horticultural Society of London, to find and collect samples of the Orientâs botanical riches.
#2 The British Empire was a source of opportunity for many entrepreneurial Scots who were eager to make a living abroad. With their lively minds, they rose quickly through the ranks of horticulture.
#3 The British had some knowledge of Chinaâs affairs through trading contact, but the interior of China was still largely a mystery. The emperor took great efforts to keep foreigners from exploring his territory and exploiting its resources.
#4 Fortune was chosen to lead the China expedition despite lacking the typical gentlemanâs background that would fit him for such a prestigious Society assignment. He was paid wages of only ÂŁ100 a year, a paltry sum on which to raise a family.