2 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



that I was able to form an intelligent idea of the flora of China 

 and to properly appreciate its richness and manifold problems. 



The Chinese flora is, beyond question, the richest temper- 

 ate flora in the world. A greater number of different kinds 

 of trees are found in China than in the whole of the other 

 north-temperate regions. Every important genus of broad- 

 leaved trees known from the temperate regions of the Northern 

 Hemisphere is represented in China except the Hickory 

 {Gary a), Plane [Platanus), and False Acacia [Rohinia). All 

 the coniferous genera of the same regions, except the Redwoods 

 [Sequoia), Swamp Cypress (Taxodium), Chamaecyparis, 

 Umbrella Pine [Sciadopitys), and true Cedars (Cedrus), are 

 found there. In North America, excluding Mexico, about 

 165 genera of broad-leaved trees occur. In China the number 

 exceeds 260. Of the 300 genera of shrubs enumerated in 

 the Kew Hand-List of Trees and Shrubs (1902 ed.) fully half 

 are represented in China. 



The great interest and value, however, of the Chinese 

 flora lies not so much in its wealth of species as in the 

 ornamental character and suitability of a vast number for 

 the embellishment of parks and outdoor gardens throughout 

 the temperate regions of the world. My work in China has 

 been the means of discovering and introducing numerous new 

 plants to Europe and North America and elsewhere. But 

 previous to this work of mine the value of Chinese plants 

 was well known and appreciated. Evidence of this is afforded 

 by the fact that there is no garden worthy of the name, 

 throughout the length and breadth of the temperate parts 

 of the Northern Hemisphere, that does not contain a few 

 plants of Chinese origin. Our Tea and Rambler Roses, 

 Chrysanthemums, Indian Azaleas, Camellias, Greenhouse 

 Primroses, Moutan Paeonies, and Garden Clematis have all 

 been derived from plants still to be found in a wild state in 

 central and Western China. The same is true of a score of 

 other favourite flowers. China is also the original home of 

 the Orange, Lemon, Citron, Peach, Apricot, and the so-caUed 

 European Walnut. The horticultural world is deeply in- 

 debted to the Far East for many of its choicest treasures, 

 and the debt will increase as the years pass. 



