130 GARDENS AND NURSERIES  [Cnap. VIII. 
yet Shanghae is rich in species which have been 
brought from other parts of the empire, and are 
here exposed in gardens for sale: but there are 
here no mandarin gardens similar to those at 
Ning-po, this being essentially a mercantile city, and 
all the residents engaged in active business. The 
difference between the two towns, in this respect, 
is indeed very striking. To make up, however, for 
the deficiency of private collections, I found a num- 
ber of nursery gardens containing excellent assort- 
ments of plants for sale, many of which were new 
to me, and are unknown in Europe; and, being at 
the same time very ornamental, were consequently 
of great value. At first I had great difficulty 
in finding out these gardens. The Chinese, from 
motives which it would be difficult to define— per- 
haps jealousy or fear, — were unwilling to give me 
the slightest information about any of these places 
outside of the town. They told me there were 
numbers of flower-shops in the city, but denied 
having any knowledge of nurseries or gardens in 
the country. 
“Tf you want flowers,” said they, “there they 
are in the shops; why do you not buy them? 
Shanghae men do this, and you should do the 
same.” 
** But then shops do not contain the things 
which I want,” said I. 
“Then give us the names of the things you 
want, and we will get them for you.” 
“ But how can I give you the names? I do not 
