Ch. XX.] FA-TEE NUESEEIES. 335 



the lions of Canton, which have been the subject of many 

 papers and sketches, and will provide matter for yet many 

 more. 



There are no public parks or places devoted to recreation 

 in Canton ; but certain private gardens are much frequented, 

 especially those known as Puntinqua's, belonging to a 

 wealthy Chinaman of that name. These gardens are ex- 

 tensive, and costly ia the character of their decoration, con- 

 taining numerous summer-houses, terraces, marble walks, 

 fish-ponds, &c. ; but all in a very dilapidated condition, as, 

 in fact, are nearly all places in China. They seem to have 

 no idea of keeping buildings in a state of neat repair, and 

 the result is a very great drawback to the effect of works 

 upon which large sums of money have been expended. 



More interesting, however, in a botanical point of view, 

 are the Fa-tee gardens on the Honam side, which are, in 

 fact, nurseries, in which are cultivated vast numbers of plants 

 for the supply of the private gardens of the Chinese. Here 

 may be seen also numerous specimens of horticultural in- 

 genuity, and dwarf plants, miniature trees and shrubs curled 

 and bent in every imaginable form, and traiued, besides, iuto 

 the forms of animals and other objects — frogs, pagodas, 

 baskets, elephants and castles, fans, stags among trees, 

 human beings, fish, sampans, cats, scrolls, vases, &c., &c. 

 These grotesque plants are usually dwarfed and trained over 

 a wire framework, made of the form intended to be repre- 

 sented. They are kept carefully chpped, and suggestions 

 are added to keep up the illusion, in the shape of egg-shells 

 with a black spot to represent eyes, painted faces, feet, &c. ; 

 so that it is by no means difficult to recognise the intended 

 shape. The dwarfing is effected ia the usual way, by con- 

 fining the roots in small pots ; but I saw none of those won- 



