258 TRANSACTIOKS OF THE 



[Journal Do La Socicte Impcriale et Ccntrale D'llortieulture. Paris, April ISST.J 



TREE P^ONY. 



The gardens of Europe have had this magnificent flower but 

 recently, although it was known since the middle of the seven- 

 teenth century. It came from China, by the Dutch Embassy, in 

 1656. It was the favorite flower of the Mandarins, who called 

 it the king of flowers. It did not differ much, except in size, 

 from the roses of the day. It surpasses the rose in beauty, but 

 has not the perfume. Their general color is white, mixed with a 

 little purple — but there are some yellowish and some reddish tint> 

 Every Mandarin has them in his garden. Mr, Banks, of the 

 Royal Society ol London, engaged several Canton merchants to 

 procure some of the plants for him. Many were sent, but almost 

 all of them perished on the passage. In 1794 they were success- 

 fully introduced. 



It is said to have been cultivated in China for the last 1,400 

 years. Some of the Chinese historians, say it has by peculiar 

 cultivation, transformed from the common herbaceous Pajony^ 

 growing in the Province of Loyang, nearly ten feet high. Other 

 writers say that it was found wild on the northern mountains of 

 China, When first introduced it caused a sort of tulip mania — 

 so that a hundred ounces of gold were given for the best plant. 

 The Chinese multiply them principally by the seed, and have 

 made two hundred and forty varieties, some of which possess deli- 

 cious odor. Mr. Fortune, of London, has brought from China 

 very beautiful plants, surpassing all former sorts in size of flower 

 and beauty of tint. 



PETUNIA. 



This plant makes great progress in our gardens latterly, and 

 numerous varieties of its flowers are obtained by our horticul- 

 turists, far more beautiful than their originals. 



Mons. Regel, by long experience and opportunity, has raised 

 new ones, with very large flowers, and some with their flowers- 

 bordered with green. 



Mons. Regel sows the seeds in February or March, in shallow 

 pots — with a soil of two parts of heath soil (quite light,) and one- 

 half part sand, with one part clayey soil. For want of heath soiI> 



