Mr. R. B. Hinds on Geoyraphic Botany. 99 



mixing together China ink and gamboge, and that by vaiying 

 the proportions, all the shades of green are produced which are 

 found in the foliaceous organs of plants. DeCandolle adds, that 

 though this explanation is somewhat mechanical, it is very likely 

 to be correct. 



The Chinese, with that practical application of facts to pur- 

 poses of utility which so pre-eminently distinguishes them as a 

 nation, have availed themselves of some of these features in their 

 landscape gardening. To convey the appearance of distance, 

 trees of the loftiest and largest growth with foliage of the deepest 

 green are selected for the foreground. Others of smaller stature 

 and more subdued shades are placed in the distance ; whilst to 

 vary the surface and increase the apparent extent, groups of 

 suitable trees, selected also with a due regard to the influence of 

 the seasons, are judiciously scattered about. To aid the effects 

 produced by vegetation, representations of old ruins, receding 

 walls, and time-worn rock-work, are all made available. 



All the species which enter into the flora of a country do not 

 equally assist to give a certain physiognomy ; and they will vary 

 considerably among themselves as to their power of doing so. 

 Trees and shrubs from their size will surpass herbaceous plants, 

 whilst these also will excel each other according to any pecu- 

 liarities of organization they may possess. The prevalence of 

 certain families in particular regions will often be highly charac- 

 teristic : none would feel at a loss when surrounded by Cruciferce 

 and Umbelliferce ; or when traversing a plain covered with Eri- 

 cacecSj a grove of Chamcerops palmetto, or a thicket of Melastoma. 

 When plants become gregarious, especially those of larger growth, 

 they deeply impress features on the scenery around them. An 

 impression of this kind is also liable to occur from an opposite 

 cause. Supposing in a forest where the trees possess a similar 

 aspect and manner of growth, there occur one or two, or more 

 individuals of a totally different character; these latter will 

 obtain a prominence which is not due to them from their num- 

 bers, but from their peculiarities. A circumstance of this kind 

 strongly impressed me in the Brazilian forest, when encountering 

 a few individuals of Ai-aucaria hraziliensis in the midst of trees 

 not distinguished for their physiognomy. 



To obtain some numerical value for those plants which appeared 

 to give a character, I assembled a number of different species in 

 Devonshire, and after carefully examining them, and making the 

 freest allowances, I came to the conclusion that in 100 species, 

 forty-eight might be considered as contributing to the physio- 

 gnomy of the flora, and fifty- two were too insignificant to assist in 

 this. It occurred to me to repeat the observation within the 

 tropics, where I found the numbers very similar, though the pro- 



