128 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



pronouncing it " the most interesting botanical discovery made in a 

 generation." 



It is strange to see how the Chinese gardeners with their primi- 

 tive methods have learned how to master the propagation of certain 

 plants. One finds, for instance, that in north China chrysanthe- 

 mums are grafted upon a biennial Artemisia, which is very resistant 

 to drouth, alkali and rough handling. In Central China again, 

 where there is no alkali, a perennial wormwood is used for the same 

 purpose, Artemisia vulgaris, var. indica. 



In the provinces of Honan and Chihli, Syringa meyeri is grafted 

 on Ligustriim quihoui, while around Shanghai, Syringa ohiata is 

 put high up on Ligustrum lucidum so as to make standard specimens 

 of them. 



The tea olive, Osmanthus fragrans, which grows on its own roots 

 in central China, is grafted on the Chinese fringe tree, Chionanthus 

 retvsa, in the province of Shantung, while in the other northern 

 provinces one finds it grafted on Ligustrum quihoui. 



In Peking and Tientsin, Prunus triloba, Prunus tomcntosa, flow- 

 ering apricots and flowering peaches are all grafted on the remark- 

 able drouth and alkali resistant Amygdalys davidiana, and since 

 this stock is a very early one, the Chinese use it extensively in 

 forcing. 



The tree peonj', Paconia suffruticosa, is generally grafted on the 

 roots of a very hardy herbaceous peony, Paeonia albifiora. Various 

 species of rare junipers are put on oriental arbor vitae stock. Thuja 

 orientalis. The ordinary pear from north China thrives to per- 

 fection on a very drouth resistant stock, which bears fruits not 

 larger than the size of peas, Pyrus bdulacfolia. Persimmons, 

 Diospyros kaki, are grafted in north China on the " Ghoorma," 

 Biospyros lotus, while in central China wild forms of kakis are 

 employed. 



In Soochow I have seen a yellow-berried ivy, Hcdcra himalaica, 

 grafted high up on the stem of an Aralia, and a large flowering snow- 

 ball, Viburnum macroccphalum, put on the stem of another species 

 of Viburnum, while in Shansi standard tea roses are grafted on 

 strong stems of Rosa xanthina, which is very resistant to alkali 

 and dry heat. 



The Chinese in north China have greenhouses, but instead of 



