202 TO DESTROY THE THRIT, 



different from those of the south : — " Almost all the species of a 

 tropical character having entirely disappeared, and in their places we 

 find others related to those found in temperate climates in other parts 

 of tlie world. I here met, for the first time, the beaiuiful Glycine 

 sinensis, wild on the hills, where it climbs among the hedges and on 

 trees, and its flowering branches hang in graceful festoons by the sides 

 of the narrow roads which lead over the mountains. The Ficus nitida, 

 so common around all the houses and temples in the south, is here 

 unknown ; and many of those beautiful flowering genera which are 

 only found on the tojjs of the mountains in the south have here chosen 

 less exalted situations ; I allude more particularly to the Azaleas, 

 which abound on the hill sides of this island. Most people have seen 

 and admired tlie beautiful Azaleas which are brought to the Cliiswick 

 fetes, and which, as individual specimens, surpass in most instances 

 those whicli grow and bloom on their native hills; but few can form 

 any idea of the gorgeous and striking beauty of tliese Azalea-clad 

 mountains, where, on every side, as far as our vision extends, the eye 

 rests on n-sasses of flowers of dazzling brightness and surpassing beauty. 

 Nor is it tlie Azalea alone which claims our admiration ; Clematises, 

 wild Roses, Honeysuckles, the Glycine, noticed above, and a hundred 

 others, mingle their flowers with them, and make us confess that China 

 is indeed tlie ' central flowery land.' " 



The fondness of the Chinese for dwarfed plants is well known ; their 

 mode of preparing such objects is explained with more appearance of 

 truth tlian we find in any previous account ; and Mr. Fortune thus 

 illustrates the passion for them which exists among all ranks of 



society : — 



" When I was travelling on the hills of Ilong-kong, a few days after 

 my first arrival in China, 1 met with a most curious dwarf Lycopodium, 

 vhich 1 dug up and carried down to Messrs. Dent's garden, where 

 uiy other plants were at the time. ' Ilai-yah,' said the old compradore, 

 wiien he saw it, and was quite in raptures of delight. All the other 

 coolies and servants gatliered round the basket to admire tliis curious 

 little plant. I had not seen them evince so much gratification since 

 I showed them ' the old man Cactus' (Cereus senilis), which I took out 

 from Eno-land, and presented to a Chinese nurseryman at Canton. On 

 askino- them why they prized the Lycopodium so much, they replied, in 

 Canton English, ' Oh, he too muchia handsome ; he grow only a leete 

 and a leete every year: and suppose he be 100 year oula, he only so 

 hi"h ' holding up their hands an inch or two higher than the plant."_ 



TO DESTROY THE THRIP. 



Take a peck and a half of soot, and put it into a hogshead of soft 

 water, keeping it well stirred every day for ten days or a fortnight. 

 This is strained through a fine sieve or piece of can\as into a tub con- 

 taining a peck of charcoal, and two or three lumps, or about three 

 pounds of quick lime dropped in ; in about two days it is strained 

 again, and is then clear to syringe plants with. It will not only extir- 

 pate thrip, but many other troublesome insects, and is a good liquor 

 for syringing with, as it induces general vigour and healthiness among 

 plants. 



