Floricidturcd and Botanical Notices. 101 



at Canton, of their having blue and black ones. Since the 

 theory of the zanthic and cyanic series in flowers is about 

 to be exploded, these things, which at one time were behev- 

 ed to be quite impossible, now appear within bounds of 

 reason, and it would not surprise us if Mr. Fortune should 

 succeed in sending home some of the plants possessing these 

 remarkable colors. For a further account of some of the 

 Chinese varieties of the pgeony, we may refer to our article 

 in a previous Volume (II, p. 335). The splendid varie- 

 ties of the camellia which have more recently been intro- 

 duced, afford at once a proof of the existence of others 

 equally or more beautiful, which yet await the researches of 

 an enthusiastic collector. One of the ports to be opened to 

 the intercourse of England is Foo-choo-foo, a very impor- 

 tant city, situated at the mouth of the river Min, which 

 runs into the heart of Fokien ; and this must be an admi- 

 rable port for gardening operations. 



We are also pleased to learn that there is some probabil- 

 ity of an envoy being sent out from this country to China. 

 And the name of Nathan Dunn, Esq., of Philadelphia, the 

 owner of the Chinese Museum, whose acquaintance with 

 the Chinese, their character, &c., is probably more exten- 

 sive than that of any other American, is spoken of as 

 ably calculated to perform the duties of the office. Should 

 he, or any other individual be selected for the station, we 

 could wish that he should be requested to collect and send 

 home both seeds and plants for the National Institute 

 at Washington ; where, under the direction of Dr. Picker- 

 ing, the seeds might be distributed among our nursery-men, 

 and the plants, when increased by the skill of our friend 

 Mr. Breckenridge, disposed of in the same manner. In this 

 way great good would result from the establishment of the 

 Institute. Did our consuls and other officers of govern- 

 ment in foreign ports, feel but a tithe of the interest in the 

 subject of the introduction of new plants, that every Eng- 

 lishman does, our gardens would have long since been en- 

 riched with numerous plants, now only found in the nur- 

 series and gardens of the nobility of England. The re- 

 sults of the Exploring Expedition are a good beginning, 

 but we wish to see them followed up with similar benefit, 

 through the agency of navy officers visiting foreign ports, 

 and the aid of other officers of government. 



Part IT, Vol. TIF, of Torrey and Gray's Flora has just 



