A few flower samples from Madagascar. In 1943, Dr. Henri Poisson undertook to gather Notes on naturalists who came to Madagascar, found at the Natural History Museum in Paris. He indicated that he found four hundred twenty-five more or less complete files there. The 19th century was especially marked by numerous and important discoveries by naturalist-travelers, most of whom were trained at the King's Garden, that is, the Museum. Many were gardeners, a profession that allowed them to know exotic plants and their cultivation, and thereby render excellent services in overseas countries. It was especially at the beginning of this century, under the skillful direction of André Thouin (1747-1823)—at that time, head gardener before becoming the first holder of the chair of cultivation—that travelers could benefit from this teaching. The Natural History Museum in Paris held a primary place in research in overseas countries. At the time of the Restoration, Boitard, a historiographer of the Jardin des Plantes