260 NEW PLANTS FOUND. [Cuar. XIII. 
near the east gate, by which I entered, is anything 
but splendid; the streets are narrow and dirty, 
and the population seems of the lowest order, but 
towards the west the buildings and streets are 
much finer, the shops are large, and everything 
denotes this to be the rich and aristocratic part of 
the town. The city gates seem to be well guarded 
with Chinese soldiers, and all the streets and lanes 
inside are intersected at intervals with gates, 
which are closed at nine or ten o’clock at night. 
The Governor General of the province resides 
here, and keeps those under his control in excellent 
order. 
The number of nursery gardens in this city had 
been exaggerated by my Chinese friends at 
Shanghae, but nevertheless there were several of 
considerable extent, out of which I was able to 
procure some new and valuable plants. Among 
these I may notice in passing a white Glycine, a 
fine new double yellow rose, and a Gardenia with © 
large white blossoms, like a Camellia. These plants 
are now in England, and will soon be met with in 
every garden in the country. The Soo-chow nur- 
series abounded in dwarf trees, many of which were 
very curious and old, two properties to which the 
Chinese attach far greater importance than we do 
in England. 
The ladies here are considered by the Chinese to 
be the most beautiful in the country, and, judging 
from the specimens which I had an opportunity of 
seeing, they certainly deserve their high character. 
