252 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
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the emperor, and which is said to have from 100 to 
1000 petals. —It is recommended to those who wish 
to import plants from Canton, to furnish themselves 
with good Chinese drawings of the varieties they wish 
to obtain; and to send these to an agent or col- 
lector. Mr. Main also recommends adding to the 
drawing the Chinese character for the variety, if it 
can be procured. The word moutan is written in 
Chinese as in jig. 30. 
Description. The Peénia Moitan, in a sheltered 
situation, will attain the height of from 6 ft. to 10 ft. 
in ten years; and no plant can be a more gorgeous 
ornament of the garden than such a bush, abounding 
as it does in leaves, striking from their branched character and numerous seg- 
ments, and in very magnificent flowers, of extraordinary size: both leaves 
and flowers being produced early im the spring. 
Geography, History, $c. P. Moitan appears to have been first observed by 
Europeans in the gardens at Canton, where, however, it is neither indigenous 
nor propagated; but the plants are brought by the commercial gardeners of 
the provinces of Nan-Kin and Ho-Nan, where it is a native, and sold by 
them to the merchants and others possessing gardens at Canton. From 
Chinese drawings, and from the extravagant praises bestowed upon this plant 
in the Mémoires sur la Chine, published by the missionaries, an ardent desire 
was excited, in Sir Joseph Banks and others, to import plants into England ; 
and, previously to 1786, Sir Joseph Banks engaged Mr. Duncan, a medical 
gentleman attached to the East India Company’s service, to procure a plant 
for the royal garden at Kew, where it was first received, through Mr. Duncan’s 
exertions, in 1787. (See Gard. Mag.,ii. p. 424.) Various plants have since been 
imported by different individuals, mostly of the common sort (P. M. Banksi), 
but including also some of the varieties which have been enumerated above. 
In 1803, the P. Modan was introduced into France, and various other parts 
of the continent of Europe, having been sent from the Hammersmith Nursery 
to the garden of Malmaison. 
Soil and Situation. On its first importation this plant was grown in sandy 
peat; but it has since been found to thrive best in deep rich loamy soil. An 
open situation is preferable, both on account of maturing the wood and leaves, 
and for displaying the flowers to advantage; but the plant must be sheltered 
from the north and east, or other cold spring winds, unless it is intended to 
cover it, when it is in flower, with a movable glass, or canvass, case. The pro- 
tection given to this plant is necessary, not so much to prevent it from being 
injured during winter (for it will bear the winters of Paris without any pro- 
tection, if the wood has been properly ripened), as to protect the tender leaves 
and flowers when they first appear, in April and May, from being blackened by 
the frost. Mr. Curtis finds, at Glazenwood in Essex, that by giving the plants 
no protection whatever, they flower somewhat later than if protected; and 
this slight retardation, in his part of the country, is sufficient, in most years, to 
prevent the flowers from being injured by frost. In severe weather, however, 
when they are in flower, he protects them with poles and mats. (Curt. Bot. 
Mag,, vol. i. p. 26., 1833, new edit.) 
Properties and Uses. The whole plant possesses narcotic and poisonous 
qualities, which are common to the genus. No use, however, is made of the 
ligneous species, but as an ornamental flowering shrub, as which, it is needless 
to say, it holds the very first rank. 
Propagation and Culture. The Chinese are said to propagate this plant by 
seeds, in order to procure new varieties; but they also multiply it by parting 
the roots, and by layers and cuttings ; and it is said that “ they generally ino- 
culate the buds of different varieties upon the several branches of the same 
colour. When the time of flowering approaches, they carefully remove all the 
superfluous buds, in order to strengthen those which they intend to expand ; 
and these they also protect from the scorching heat of the sun.” (Kemp. Ameen. 
