32 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in our South-eastern Atlantic States. The camellia has 

 already become spontaneous in some parts of South Carolina ; 

 and the pride-of-China {Melia Azederacli) has thoroughly 

 established itself in nearly all the Southern States ; while 

 the ailanthus is gradually gaining a foothold throughout the 

 Middle States and the South. 



So far as experiments go, it is proved that the region of 

 Eastern Asia is the one, and only one, to which we are to 

 look for any further extensive additions to our plantation. 

 For years our gardens have been enriched by a host of plants 

 from China and Japan. The Chinese wistaria, more elegant 

 than our native species, and the early-flowering magnolias, 

 have already found their way into almost every garden ; the 

 wigelia and the deutzia are hardly less common ; while the 

 Chinese honevsuclde flourishes here in cultivation more 

 vigorously than any native species. 



The Chinese tamarix, a larger and better tree than the 

 European species most frequently seen in cultivation, has 

 proved during thirty years perfectly hardy ; the akebia, with 

 its curious dark-purple blossoms, has long been a favorite 

 ornament in gardens ; and the Japanese woodbine has cer- 

 tainly met with the welcome it deserves. 



INIost of the plants thus far mentioned are quite familiar, 

 and flourish in nearly every garden, in company with the 

 dicentra, Japanese lilies, peonies, and roses. The guiko-tree 

 {Salisburia adiantiflora) has been long enough in cultivation 

 to be satisfactorily tested for our region. This singular 

 conifer produces a fruit containing a seed the size of an 

 almond, which the Japanese consider a great delicacy, and 

 which would readily find a sale in our markets. Several of 

 these trees which have reached maturity in this country 

 have already perfected fruit, among them one at Central 

 Park in New York. 



Various other trees from Eastern Asia may be found in 

 botanical gardens and in the grounds of those who have 

 been fortunate and wise enough to obtain them. Nearly all 

 such give promise of success, and, when they become more 

 easily attainable, are likely to be extensively planted, as they 

 deserve. Many of these are evergreen conifers from Japan, 

 and include the umbrella-pine {Sciadopetis verticiUata) ; a 

 larch {Lavix leptolep'is) of great beauty and rapid growth; 



