FOREIGN AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



But the exceptions prove too many for tlie rnle ; 

 and we must not be startled at a blue dahlia, 

 although the Dahlia is xanthic, since we have a 

 yellow Gunii-'llia, although the Camellia is cyanic. 

 Mr. Fortune, in his very instructive work on 

 the tea countries of China, just published, saw 

 this remarkable variety, of which he gives the 

 following account: 



"Those who have read my 'Wanderings in 

 China' may remember a story I told of my en- 

 deavors to find a yellow Camellia, — how I of- 

 fered live dollars for one — how a Chinaman .soon 

 found two instead of one — and how he got the 

 money and I got taken in. 



'■ In one of tliese nurseries, however, I found 

 a yellow Camellia, and it was in bloom when I 

 bought it. It is certainly a most curious plant, 

 although not very handsome. The flowers be- 

 long to the Anemone or AVarratah class ; the 

 outer petals are of a French white, and the in- 

 ner ones are of a primrose yellow. It ajjpears 

 to be a very distinct species in foliage, and may 

 probably turn out more hardy than any of its 

 race." 



To all lovers of horticulture, the work from 

 which this is an extract, is indispensable, for it 

 abounds in interesting details respecting, not 

 merely the novelties met Avith by the enterpris- 

 ing traveller, but many of the now common fa- 

 vorites in our gardens. The passages which re- 

 late to some of them cannot be brought too 

 soon under the notice of our readers. 



Of the Funereal Cyjiress he gives the follow- 

 ing account : 



" The most beautiful tree found in this dis- 

 trict is a species of weeping Cyjjress, which I 

 had never met with in any other part of China, 

 and which was quite new to me. It was during 

 one of my daily rambles that I saw the first 

 specimen. About half a mile distant from 

 where I was, I observed a noble looking Fir tree, 

 about 60 feet in height, havinga stem as straight 

 as the Norfolk Island Pine, and weeping branch- 

 es like the Willow of St. Helena. Its branches 

 grew at first at right angles to the main stem, 

 then described a graceful curve upwards, and 

 bent again at their points. From these main 

 branches others long and slender hung down 

 perpendicularly, and gave the whole tree a 

 weeping and graceful form, It reminded me 

 of some of those large and gorgeous chandeliers, 

 sometimes seen In theatres and public halls in 

 Europe." 



The gardeners at Shanghae seem to set an 

 example of skill which some of our own people 

 would do well to imitate. In the midst of win- 

 ter, in as bad a climate as that of London, the 

 flower shops were gaily filled: 



" I was not previously aware that tlic practice 

 of forcing flowers was common in China. Many 

 plants of Magnolia purpurea were in full flower ; 

 as were also many kinds of double-blossomed 

 Peaches, the pretty little Prunus sinensis alba, 



d a variety of Camellias. But what struck 

 most remarkable was the facility with 

 the Moutan Paeony had been brought 



into full bloom. Several varieties of this plant 

 were in full flower; and at this season of the 

 year, when everything out of doors was cold 

 and dreary, they hadumo.st lively efiiect. Their 

 blooms were tied up, to keep them from ex- 

 panding too rapidly. All these things had been 

 brought from the celebrated city of Soo-chow- 

 foo, the great emporium of Chinese fashion and 

 luxury. 



" /< may be thought that the Chinese have 

 glass houses, hot water pipes, and all those fine 

 things which assist gardeners and amateurs in 

 Europe. Nothing of the kind; they do all 

 these things ia their houses and sheds, with com- 

 mon charcoal fires, and a quanldy of straw 

 to stop up the crevices in the doors and win- 

 dows. 



•' At this season of the year the ' Kum-quat' 

 (Citrus japonica,) which is extensivelj' grown 

 in pots, is literally covered with its small, oval, 

 orange colored fruit. This as well as various 

 other species of the orange is mixed with the 

 forced flowers, and together produce an excel- 

 lent effect. I think if the ' Kum-quat' was bet- 

 ter known at home it would be highly prized 

 for decorative purposes during the winter 

 months. It is much more hardy than any other 

 of its tribe; it produces its flowers and fruit in 

 great abundance, and it would doubtless prove 

 a plant of easy cultivation. In order, however, 

 to succeed with it as well as the Chinese do, one 

 little fact should be kept in view, namely, that 

 all the plants of the Orange tribe which bear 

 fruit in a small state are grafted." 



Of the management of the Chrysanthemum 

 we have excellent ])ractical details: 



•' The method of cultivating the Chrysanthe- 

 mum in Cliina is as follows : — Cuttings are struck 

 every year from the young shoots, in the same 

 manner as we do in England. AVhen they are 

 rooted they are potted off" at once into the pots 

 in which they are to grow and bloom; that is, 

 they are grown upon what would be called by 

 our gardeners ' the one shift system.' 



" The soil u.sed in potting is of a very rich 

 description. About Canton it is generally ob- 

 tained, in the first instance, from the bottom of 

 lakes or ponds, where the Nelumbium or Wa- 

 ter Lily grows. It is then laid up to dry and 

 pulverise for some months, Avhen it is mixed 

 with old night-soil taken from the mantire-tanks 

 found in every garden. A heap of this kind, 

 after being laid up for some time and frequently 

 turned over, is in a fit state for potting the Chry- 

 santhemum. Manure water, taken also from 

 the tanks, is liberally supplied during the grow- 

 ing .season, and its effects are visible in luxuriant 

 dark-green loaves whicli cover the plants. 



" In forming the plants into nice compact 

 bushes, which, with due deference to Chinese 

 taste, I think much prettier than animals and 

 ' seven-storied pagodas,' their system is as fol- 

 lows: The i)lants are trained each with a single 

 stem ; this is forced to serd out numerous la 

 terals near its base, and these are tied d 

 a neat and regular manner with strin 



