90 JAPANESE BOTANY. [Maj'ch, 



strongly of the credulity and superstition of those primitive times : 

 and none more renowned in the early annals of the sanguinary 

 wars of the Saxons and Danes. The father of our first Danish 

 king burnt down the religious house, scattered the poor nuns 

 and seized on their lands, which were duly restored to the Church 

 when Canute became a good Christian. 



Those who wish to study the progress of our country in domes- 

 tic, social, and political economy will, at a very little expense 

 either of time, or travel, or money, learn it by first visiting the 

 Isle of Thanet and studying on the spot its ancient and modern 

 condition, and then, if they go as we did, to Romney Marsh, 

 where progress appears to have been arrested by natural causes, 

 they will perceive that though light, and knowledge, and curi- 

 osity may be increasing, still the outward and visible signs of 

 material progress or improvement do not strike the eye in this 

 the south-eastern nook of England so forcibly as they do in the 

 Isle of Thanet, 



JAPANESE BOTANY. 



The following '^ Notes on the Vegetation of Japan," are by 

 Mr. \'eitch, of Chelsea, and were originally printed in the ' Gar- 

 deners' Chronicle,' 



The vegetation of Japan is remarkable for the immense variety 

 of trees and shrubs growing throughout the length and breadth 

 of the land. Three-fourths of these may be said to be ever- 

 greens, giving the country almost as fresh an appearance during 

 the winter months as in summer. The country we travelled 

 through during our trip is probably second to no other in point 

 of general vegetation ; from the lowest valley to the mountain 

 summits it is one dense mass of luxuriant trees and shrubs. The 

 trees of considerable size which we met with consisted of Pines, 

 Oaks, Maples, etc. Others of less dimensions, viz. Beech, Lime, 

 Alder, Chestnut, etc., give a pleasing variety of foliage. The main 

 roads are planted wherever practicable, with pine avenues. These 

 trees often attain the height of from 150 to 180 feet ; their 

 higher branches forming a perfect covered archway. The splendid 

 effect thus produced by miles of noble trees, can scarcely be de- 

 scribed. Cryptomeria japonica (the Cedar of Japan) must un- 



