FOEEIGN ■ K0TICE9. 



*TIie natives in the south of China, like the Malays, are very foni.l of chewing the fruit of the Areca, commonly 

 called Betlc-nut. 



1 



tlio plants, arc low walls of ornamental brickwork, latticed so that the ponds or small lakes, 

 which are on each eielc, can be seen. Altogethei-, the octagon arch, the alcove, the pretty orna- 

 mental llower pots, and the water on each side, has a s^triking effect, and is thorouglily Chinese. 



The j>lants consist of good specimens of Southern Chinese things, oil well known in Eiighmd, 

 eiicli, fur example, as Cymbidium sinense, Olea fragran?. Oranges, Roses, Camellias, Magnolias, itc., 

 and, of coui'se, a multitude of dwarf trees, without which no Chinese garden would be considered 

 complete. In the alcove alluded to there are some nice stone seats, which look cool in a climate 

 like that of Southern China. The floor of this building is raised a few feet above the ground- 

 level, so that the visitor gets a good view of the water and other objects of interest in the garden. 

 That this is a favorite lounge and smoking place with the Chinese, the following Chinese notice, 

 which we found on one of the pillars, will testify: "A careful and earnest notice : This garden 

 earnestly requests that visitors will spit Betle* outside the railing, and knock the ashes of pipes 

 also outside." Several tine fruit trees and others are growing near the walks, and afford shade 

 from the rays of the sun. On one of these we read the following: "llamblers here will be 

 excused plucking the fruit on this tree." 



Near the center of the garden stands a suLstantial summer-house, or hall, named " the Hall of 

 Fragrant Plants." The same notice to smokers and -chewers of Betle-nut is also put up here ; and 

 there is another and longer one which I must not forget to quote. It is this: "In this garden 

 the ])laut3 are intended to delight the eyes of all visitors; a great deal has been expended in 

 planting and in keeping in order, and the garden is now beginning to yield some return. Those 

 who come here to saunter about are earnestly prayed not to pluck the fruit or flowers, in oi der 

 that the beauty of the place may be preserved." And then follows a piece of true Chinese 

 politeness: "We beg persons who understand this notice to excuse it !" Passing through the 

 Hall of Fragrant Plants we ap]iroaehed, between two rows of Olea fragrans, a fine ornamental 

 suite of rooms tastefully fin-nished and decorated, in which visitors are received and entertained. 

 An inscription informs us that this is called " the Fragrant Hall of the Woo-che tree." Leaving 

 this place by a narrow door we observed the following notice : " Saunterers here will be excused 

 entering." This apparentjy leads to the private apartments of the family. In this side of the 

 garden there is some fine artificial rockwork, which the Chinese know well how to construct, and 

 various summer-houses tastefully decorated, one of which is called the "Library of Verdant 

 Purity." Between this part of the garden and the straight walk already noticed, there is a smnll 

 pond or lake for fish and Water Lilies. This is crossed by a zigzag wooden bridge of many arches, 

 which looked rather dilapidated. A ver}"^ necessary notice was put np here, informing " saun- 

 terers to stop their steps in case of accident." 



On the outskirts of the garden we observed the potting sheds, a nursery for rearing young 

 plants and seeds, and the kitchen garden. Here a natural curiosity was pointed out by one of 

 the Chinese, which, at first sight, appeared singularly curious. Three trees were growing in a 

 row, and at about twenty or thirty feet from the ground the two outer ones had sent out shoots, 

 and fairly united themselves with the center one. When I mention that the outer trees are the 

 Chinese Banyan {Ficas nitida), it will readily be seen how the appearance they presented was 

 produced. The long roots sent down by this species had lovingly embraced the center tree, and 

 appeared at first sight to have really grafted themselves upon it. 



I am afraid I have given a very imj)erfeet description of this curious garden. Those who 

 know what a Chinese garden is will understand me well enough, but it is really difiicult to give 

 a stranger an idea of the Chinese style which I have been endeavoring to describe. In order to 

 nnderstand the Chinese style of gardening, it is necessary to dispel from the mind all ideas of 

 fine lawns, broad walks, and extensive views; and to picture in their stead everything on a small 

 scale — that is, narrow paved walks, dwarf walls in all directions, with latticework or ornamental 

 openings in them, in order to give views of the scenery beyond, halls, summer-houses, and alcoves, 

 ponds or small lakes with zigzag walks over them — in short, an endeavor to make small things 

 appear large, and large things small, and everything Chinese. There are some of these ornaments, 

 however, which I think might be imitated with advantage in our own gai'dens. Some of the 



