Cuar. VIII.] TREES AND SHRUBS. 129 
highly valued by the Chinese, and from its beauty 
and straightness is often used by the mandarins 
and priests for those long poles which are generally 
seen in front of their houses and temples. It is 
also well known and highly prized by the natives 
of Japan. My first seeds and plants of this beau- 
tiful fir were sent from Shanghae, in the autumn 
of 1843, and fortunately reached the garden of 
the Horticultural Society, at Chiswick, in excellent 
order. It is to be hoped that-it will prove hardy, 
and if so, it will forma striking feature in the woods 
of England. 
The only tree which I met with of very large 
size in this district is the Salisburia adiantifolia, 
commonly called the Maiden-hair tree, from the re- 
semblance its leaves bear to a fern of that name. 
This is one of the plants which the Chinese are 
fond of dwarfing, and it is, consequently, often seen 
in that state in their gardens. Its fruit is sold in 
the markets in all Chinese towns by the name of 
“ Pa-Kwo,” and is not unlike dried almonds, only 
whiter, fuller, and more round. The natives seem 
very fond of it, although it is rarely eaten by 
Europeans. The weeping-willow, apparently the 
same species as we possess in England, is also com- 
mon on the sides of all the rivers and canals, as 
well as in the gardens of the Chinese; and there is 
also a species of elm, but it never attains any great 
size, and can therefore be of little value. 
Although there is a paucity in the number of 
plants which are really indigenous to this district, 
K 
