SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



Chihli the Cypress (Cupressus sp.) is very common, 

 being used chiefly to adorn temples and cemeteries. 

 In the wild state it does not attain any great size ; 

 but in old temples and official buildings very large 

 specimens may often be seen. The wood of this 

 tree is used in the manufacture of the more ex- 

 pensive coffins, as it is worm-proof and withstands 

 the action of moisture longer than any other kinds. 



Mention must be made of the peculiar little 

 conifer which we found growing in small dense 

 patches at long intervals in the Ordos Desert. 

 This resembles the Juniper more than anything 

 else, and as already stated is very resinous. 



The Yew (Taxus ^p.) occurs very rarely in North 

 China ; the vicinity of Shi-t'ieh near T'ai-yiian Fu 

 in Shansi being the only place known to me where 

 it grows. In South Shensi I found it quite abun- 

 dant in the Tsing-ling Mountains. 



Though scarcely a gymnosperm, the peculiar 

 Maidenhair-tree (Ginkgo hiloba) should be men- 

 tioned next. This, the only living member of a 

 very ancient family, has been preserved in the 

 Buddhist Temples of China and Japan. Though 

 it is thought that wild trees may exist in Western 

 China, none have been discovered so far. There 

 are two very fine specimens in the grounds of 

 the famous old Temple at Chin-ssu near T'ai-yiian 

 Fu in Shansi. The Chinese consider the nuts of 

 this tree a delicacy. 



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