286 ARISTOCRATS OF THE GARDEN 



some useful practical knowledge derived from my 

 own experiences. Laokai was reached about mid- 

 night on the 16th idem, and after a few days' stay I 

 departed for Hongkong where I arrived on the after- 

 noon of November 26th. 



During my journeys in Yunnan I collected a num- 

 ber of interesting plants and among them Jasminum 

 primulinum, which has achieved widespread popular- 

 ity in Europe and in this country. From Hongkong 

 I despatched my collections to England and in due 

 time left for Ichang situated on the Yangtsze River 

 in the very heart of China. 



Ichang, where I arrived on February 24, 1900, was 

 to be my headquarters for two years so I made plans 

 accordingly, I purchased a native boat of good size 

 in which to live and to serve as a base of supplies, 

 and engaged some countrymen to assist me in col- 

 lecting. The all-important arrangements completed, 

 a series of short prospecting trips up country from 

 Ichang were undertaken for the purpose of getting 

 some acquaintance with the flora and for testing and 

 training my men. By the middle of April everything 

 was ready to start in quest of the Davidia. On a half 

 page of a notebook Dn Henry had sketched a 

 tract of country about the size of New York State 

 and had marked the spot where he had found growing 



