cultivating in England. By Mr. John Lindley. 121 



CHINA AND JAPAN, 

 with which my remarks will terminate. In these latitudes the 

 cultivated fruits, with the exception of Sapindacece, consist 

 almost entirely of the same natural orders as those of Europe, 

 or at least approximate considerably to them. The place of 

 the Myrtacece, Guttiferce, and Terebintacece of countries 

 nearer the Equator is chiefly occupied by Pomacece and 

 Prunacece ; the latter, however, differ universally in their 

 kinds from what are known in this quarter of the world, and 

 not unfrequently surpass them in quality, if we may credit 

 the best authorities on the subject. 



Of Pears, there are several kinds, some of which have lately 

 been introduced into Europe by the Horticultural Society. 

 But besides those of a common appearance, Marco Polo 

 asserts that there are at all seasons in the markets in Kin-sai, 

 Pears of an enormous size weighing ten pounds a piece, which 

 are white in the inside, melting, and with a fragrant smell.* 

 Van Braam also speaks of Pears of a large size which were 

 commonly sold by the road-side in the north of China. He 

 describes them to have measured fifteen inches and a half in 

 circumference the long way, and fourteen inches the round 

 way ; their colour of a fine golden yellow, their flesh melting, 

 and their taste very agreeable. He considered it to be the 

 only kind cultivated in the northern provinces.-f 



Of Peach trees there are three principal kinds, the Dwarf 

 Peaches, the Peach Bushes, and the Tree Peaches ; of each 

 of which there is a vast variety of sorts. The two first are 



* Marco Polo, by Marsden, page 514. 

 VOL, V. R 



t Ibid, in note. 



