January 1, 1910 



HORTICULTURE 



Plant Novelties from China 



LIBRARY 



NEW YORK 5 



BOTANICAL ' 



QARDEN. 



In the early part of the nineteenth century European 

 horticulture received an immense impetus by the intro- 

 duction from Canton (South China) of varieties of Chi- 

 nese azaleas, eamelias, Moutans, chrysanthemums, 

 roses and numerous other treasures including the Chi- 

 nese primrose, Dendrobium nobile and Wistaria sinensis. 

 This was followed by the great work of Kobt. Fortune, 

 during the middle of the century, in and around Shang- 

 hai, Ningpo and Japan. In those early days the gar- 

 dens and nurseries of the Chinese contained a wealth of 

 new and interesting plants and it was from these sources 

 that most of the new introductions were obtained. 



From the middle to the end of the last century Japan 

 offered a more attractive field as a source of new plant 

 treasures and China remained neglected. True, in 

 1879, the late Chas. Maries, then in the employ of the 

 house of Veitcs, ascended the Yangtze river as far as 

 Ichang, staying off at Kiukiang en route. From the 

 latter place he introduced Loropetalum chinense and 

 Hamamelis mollis^both grand plants. Ichang did not 

 appeal to him as a likely field and after a week's stay he 

 abandoned it, having secured, however, seeds of Primula 

 obconica which has since become such a deservedly pop- 

 ular plant. Perliaps the fact of China being such a 

 densely populated country and its geography so little 

 known was responsible for the general impression that 

 its supply of good horticultural plants had been ex- 

 hausted. In any case the fact remains, China was 

 ignored until the extraordinary collections of dried 

 plants made by Fathers Delavay and David in the far 

 west, and by Augustine Henry in tlie heart of the coun- 

 try began to be examined. It was then seen that the 

 real flora of China was infinitely richer in horticultural 

 plants than the world had dreamed and that it remained 

 still the one country, par excellence, deserving of investi- 

 gation. One of the earliest to advocate this was Prof. 

 C. S. Sargent of the Arnold Arboretum and this gentle- 

 man, more perhaps than anyone else, was responsible for 

 the investigations which began early in 1899 and are 

 still in progress. Recommended by the tlien Director 

 of Kew Gardens (Sir William T. Thiselton-Dyer) to 

 Messrs. Veitch the writer was fortunate enough to se- 

 cure the appointment and sailed from England in early 

 April, 1899. Since then he has been engaged in the ex- 

 ploration of the plant-life of central and western China 

 — latterly in the interest of Arnold Arboretum. 



A decade has passed since the writer's first packet of 

 seed was despatched from China. The first new plant 

 was exhibited in the spring of 1902 and received a first- 

 class certificate, the higliest award of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society of London. Since then over fifty new 

 plants have received either certificate or award and 

 there are still many other to follow. For the purpose 

 of convenience the subjects will be grouped under the 

 headings Herbs, Climbers, Shrubs and Trees. 



HERBS 



Herbaceous plants do not appear to enjoy the same 

 favor in this country as in England and whilst there 

 may be good reasons for this it cannot be gainsaid that 

 they include a great variety of beautiful plants of per- 

 fect hardiness and easy culture which properly arranged 

 are capable of embellishing and beautifying almost any 

 and every situation, be it woodland, waterside, or imme- 

 diate precincts of the house. In a state of nature the 

 majority of these showy and strong-growing herbs are 

 found growing in the margins of woods and thickets, or 

 sides of streamlets, situations where the roots are kept 

 cool and abundantly supplied with moisture, and in the 

 autumn the crowns are covered with quantities of fallen 



ACONITUM WlI.SONI 



leaves, items of much moment in their successful cul- 

 ture. Besides good soil and plenty of water, frequent 

 division and transplanting — if border cultivation is at- 

 tempted — is necessary to ensure the best results. 

 Xew introductions from China have supplied 

 many novelties of merit. One of these is 

 Aconitum Wilsoni. This new Monkshood is allied to 

 the old A. napellus and is a strong growing plant, 6 to 7 

 feet high, flowering in September. The leaves are 

 leathery, dark green and much divided ; the flowers large 

 and very deep blue. After the main spike is past axil- 

 lary branches continue to bear flowers until the advent 

 of sharp frost. The rootstock is tuberous and the plants 

 require strong soil and to get established ere the best 

 results are obtained. Another equally good but very 

 distinct aconite is A. Hemsleyanum. This species is a 

 climber, 8 to 12 feet high, and in a wild state frequents 

 thickets, climbing over shrubs and festooning them with 

 a wealth of large flowers in August and September. 

 These flowers vary considerably in color and though 

 most fancy the deep blue forms best others declare the 

 pale forms equally beautiful. The best is not yet known 

 of this plant; selection and good cultivation will yield 

 something far better than the wildling. The rootstock 

 is tuberous and the twining stems, if made into cut- 

 tings in late July, root readily. Aconitum Wilsoni is 

 easily raised from seeds but the opposite is true of \. 

 Hemsleyanu-m. Both these aconites would be perfectly 

 hardy around Boston and are wall worthy of cultivation. 



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