HISTORY 



The cultivation of plants and the development of gardens is ever a 

 sign of a nation's advance toward culture and refinement. How early 

 this art began in the Orient we do not know, though history tells us 

 that plants like the Yulan and Moutan Paeony were highly esteemed 

 garden flowers among the Chinese during the Tang Dynasty (618- 

 907 A. D.)- It is much to be regretted that we are so ignorant of the 

 early history of China. It is known that during the Han Dynasty 

 (B. C. 206-A. D. 25) the Chinese had intercourse with India and Zan- 

 zibar. If proof were needed of their visiting these countries at an early 

 period it is supplied by the presence in south China and Formosa of 

 such typical African plants as Cactus-like Tree Euphorbias. Such 

 species as E. triangularis Desf., E. neriifolia L. and E. tirucalli L. are 

 common hedge-plants and are naturalised in certain places like Hong- 

 kong, Kowloon and elsewhere in China, and near Takao in Formosa, 

 as they also are in parts of India. In point of fact E. tirucalli was 

 named by Linnaeus from material which came from India. Did we 

 know more about the early travels of the Chinese it is possible that 

 we should find that they were acquainted with America long before 

 its discovery by Columbus. In south China, Formosa and the Liukiu 

 Islands Agave fourcroydes Lem. is naturalised, but this may have been 

 introduced by the Portuguese, and so too may have been Maize and 

 Tobacco. Much more difficult is it to account for Opuntia Dillenii 

 Haw. naturalised and abundant not only on the Yunnan plateaux but 

 in the valley of the Tung River in a remote part of extreme western 

 China. It is significant also that Boym in his Flora Sinensis published 

 in 1656 figures such characteristic American plants as the Pineapple 

 {Ananas sativa Schult. f.), the Sweetsop or Custard Apple (Anona 

 squamosa L.) and the Guava (Psidium guajava L.), which were evi- 

 dently common plants in China when he was there (1642-53). In 

 what era the love for flowers began to manifest itself in Japan is un- 

 certain, but Buddhism in its Chinese form was introduced from Korea 

 about 552 A. D. and from then until the 8th century Korean and 

 Chinese monks and nuns visited Japan for purposes of proselytism. 

 From the 8th century onward it became more usual for the Japanese 



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