HORTUS VEITCHII 



extremely rare in European gardens. The mission proved 

 successful. 



The result of the voyage to Japan was the enrichment of 

 European gardens with many choice coniferous trees, several 

 beautiful evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, various 

 herbaceous and other plants and bulbs. Amongst the first 

 named are Abies firma, A. microsperma, Cryptomeria japonica 

 elegans, Cupressus obtusa varieties, Juniperus chinensis aurea, 

 Larix leptolepis, Picea Alcockiana, P. ajanensis, P. polita, 

 Pinus densiflora, P. parviflora, P. Thunbergii, Tsuga diversi- 

 folia, and the introduction in quantity of the rare Sciadopitys 

 verticillata ; among the latter especial mention should be made 

 of several beautiful forms of Acer palmatum, Ampelopsis 

 Veitchii (Vitis inconstans), Lilium auratum, Primula japonica 

 and P. cortusoides. 



The spirit of enterprise and the desire of further important 

 discoveries induced him again to undertake a long voyage 

 to the East, and in 1864 John Gould Veitch sailed for 

 Australia and the South Sea Islands, returning to England 

 in February 1866. 



Among the most enduring results of the second voyage 

 was the introduction of many richly coloured Crotons and 

 Dracaenas (varieties of Codiseum and Cordyline), the fore- 

 runners of the handsome races now so constantly in request 

 for decorative purposes ; the beautiful Pandanus Veitchii, the 

 elegant Aralia Veitchii, and other plants of merit were also 

 added to our stoves. 



In the early part of 1867 this most successful traveller 

 was taken ill with an affection of the lungs, from which, 

 however, under careful treatment he rallied for a time, but 

 in August 1870 haemorrhage set in, and he died shortly 

 afterwards, at the early age of thirty-one. 



50 



