David in 1869; the first to reach Kew were collected by 
Mr. A. Henry in 1889. Horticulture owes the introduction 
of the genus into cultivation to Pere Farges, who sent seeds, 
from which a solitary plant was raised, to Messrs. Vilmorin 
in 1897. Farges sent a second supply of seeds in 1898, and 
in 1899 Mr. E. H. Wilson sent to Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons a third consignment, from which a large stock of 
plants was obtained. The original tree raised in 1897 
flowered for the first time in the collection of Mr. M. L. de 
Vilmorin at Les Barres in 1906 and was figured in the 
Gardeners’ Chronicle that year on 2nd June at p. 346. The 
trees in the nursery of Messrs. Veitch at Coombe Wood 
flowered for the first time in 1911, and a figure was given 
in the Gardeners’ Chronicle that year on 27th May at p. 329. 
Both of these figures represent conditions with relatively 
smal] flowers. Meanwhile, however, the original tree at 
Les Barres has at last developed its full beauty, and from 
this tree has been obtained the material on which our 
illustration has been based, the fruiting specimens having 
been supplied by Mr. M. L, de Vilmorin in October, 1908, 
the flowering sprays in May, 1911. Mr. Hemsley has 
discussed the history of the introduction of Davidia in the 
Kew Bulletin for 1907 at p. 301, and described the 
germination of the seeds in the Linnean Society’s Journal, 
vol. xxxv, at p. 556, while Mr. A. S. Horne has dealt 
exhaustively with the structure and affinities of this 
remarkable plant in the Linnean Society’s Transactions, 
series 2, vol. vii. at p. 303. The various forms which it 
assumes are considered by Mr. Hemsley, Mr. M. L. de 
Vilmorin,; and Mr. E. H. Wilson to be no more than 
varieties of one species. Mr. L. R. Dode, however, is 
inclined to distinguish three species, recognisable by the 
colour and the degree of pubescence of their leaves. Asa 
tree for the climate of the British Isles Davidia possesses 
two very valuable characteristics: it starts into growth 
late and finishes early. Thus it escapes damage alike 
from late spring or from early autumn frosts. So far as 
the experience of the last ten years enables us to judge it 
Is quite hardy. A vigorous feeder, it needs a deep, moist, 
well-drained loam. It can be increased by cuttings, but 
plants so raised do not grow with the clean vigour of 
seedlings. 
