By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 485 



originals in the collection of Lady Banks, which have every 

 appearance of being correct representations ; one is a very 

 rich deep red, the other white, having a tinge of green, with 

 also a delicate blush at the base of the petals ; both of them 

 double flowers. 



A very elaborate, but in many parts both fabulous and 

 mistaken account of the Moutans is given* in the Memoires 

 sur les Chinois, the substance of which I will briefly note. 

 They are stated to be of considerable antiquity in the 

 gardens of the north of China, and are supposed to have 

 been originally found wild on the mountains in the province 

 of Ho-nan. They were at first cultivated in the district of 

 Lo-yang, and subsequently in the Imperial Gardens of 

 Kai-fong-fou, in Ho-nan ; but they appear to have succeeded 

 best in the province of Hou-Kouang, from whence they are 

 now supplied to the gardens of Pekin, and other parts of 

 the Empire. They are stated to have received various names, 

 as Hoa-ouang, or King of Flowers, Pe-leang-kin, or Hundred 

 ounces of gold (from their value), and Mou-chao-yao, or 

 the Tree Pcuony, to distinguish them from the Herbaceous 

 Pasonies. It is represented that Moutans have been cul- 

 tivated frequently of various heights, from very dwarf plants, 

 to trees of twenty-four feet high, and that different varieties 

 have existed, which produced their flowers at different 

 seasons, some in winter, and some in autumn ; but the spring 

 flowering varieties are those now in cultivation. These are 

 said to be very numerous, with flowers of various degrees of 

 fullness, from semi-double to very double, and of the follow- 

 ing colours, " rouge, violet, pourpre, amaranthe,jaune, blanc, 



• Vol. iiLpage 461. 



