TOUTUJSTE — OESEKVATIONS 0~S THE KUMQTJAT. 



47 



to Europe. Indeed rumour, which is always busy, and which 

 sometimes exaggerates, spread abroad many reports of extraordinary 

 productions, which botanists and horticulturists were equally 

 anxious to possess. I well remember how in my instructions, 

 drawn up with much care by the late Dr. Lindley, I was specially 

 desired to look out for a blue Peony, a yellow Camellia, this 

 Kumquat, and other remarkable plants, which were supposed to 

 be growing and blooming unseen in the gardens of the Mandarius 

 of the Celestial Empire. "Well, rumour in this instance was not 

 very far wrong ; for I succeeded in finding a great many new va- 

 rieties of Tree Peonies, some of which were lilac in colour, if not 

 quite blue, and also a Camellia with primrose-coloured petals, 

 although not a deep yellow ; but the latter was a single-flower 

 variety, and quite unworthy of cultivation, according to our high 

 ideas of taste in these matters. 



Amongst other plants which I discovered and introduced while 

 on the mission was the Citrus japonica, or Kumquat, the plant 

 whose fruit was exhibited by Mr. Bateman at our last meeting. 

 I found it cultivated over a large tract of country in China ; but it 

 was evidently most at home in the more temperate parts — for ex- 

 ample, in the islands of the Chusan archipelago and on the main- 

 land in the same latitude. Here large plantations were met with 

 on the lower slopes of the hills ; and very beautiful they appeared 

 in autumn, winter, and spring, when the plants were covered with 

 their golden-coloured fruit and deep-green leaves. The fruit is 

 much liked by the natives, who eat the skin as well as the pulp. 

 Its chief value, however, is when used as a preserve. A large 

 quantity is exported annually to Europe and America in china 

 jars, preserved and sent home in nearly the same way as the better- 

 known Chiua ginger is sent. Such shops as those of Eortnum 

 and Mason, in Piccadilly, have always a supply ; and I believe some 

 of the Eellows of the Society tasted the preserve in this room 

 about two years ago, when Mr. Bateman also exhibited fruit which 

 had been ripened in his garden. 



In a horticultural point of view, however, in this country, we 

 must look at the Kumquat as an ornamental plant only ; and I 

 really think that if our gardeners would set about its cultivation 

 in the right way, they would find its cultivation easy, and it 

 would amply repay them by being one of the most ornamental 

 plants for winter decoration. 



Before I point out what I believe to be the method most likely 



