WANDEKINGS IN CHINA. 



657 



Most of the murders and massacres which periodically take place in China 

 are due to the lack of tact on the part of the individuals concerned, or 

 the indiscretions of travellers who have previously passed through the 

 district. 



Dr. Henry spent nearly twenty years of his life in China, and most of 

 it in remote districts ; yet I am sure he can amply bear out the above 

 statements. 



It is obvious that in one paper one can only pick out fragments from 

 here and there, and I propose to confine my remarks largely to the West of 

 China. But before passing to the West a few remarks on the flora of 

 Western Hupeh may be of interest. 



Hupeh is one of the central provinces of China. Ichang, one of its 

 principal cities, is distant from Shanghai, roughly, 1,000 geographical miles. 

 It was here that Dr. Henry began to collect plants, and it is to his labours 

 that we owe our knowledge of this remarkably rich flora. 



Western Hupeh is pre-eminently rich in flowering trees and shrubs : 

 their variety is well-nigh infinite. So extraordinarily rich is this region 

 that it might well be considered the starting-point of many genera whose 

 species extend all over China and reach even the distant Himalaya. 

 Bubus, Lonicera, Viburnum, and Spircea run riot in numbers of species ; 

 of Acer alone I collected 24 species ! 



Of the more remarkable trees and shrubs which occur I might mention 

 Davidia involucrata,Dipeltafloribunda, Itea ilicifolia, Dipteronia sinensis, 

 Eucommia ulmoides, Rhododendron auriculatum, Actinidia chinensis, 

 and Cercis racemosa. Through the courtesy of Messrs. Veitch I am able 

 to show you specimens of these and of other plants to be mentioned later 

 on. Ichang itself is the home of three most interesting plants, namely, 

 Rosa Banksice, the type of the common Chrysanthemum, and the type of 

 the common Chinese Primula. The last-named grows on the perpendicular 

 limestone cliffs of the Ichang gorge. From January to March, when 

 covered with its soft pink flowers, it presents a charming picture. Its 

 flowers resemble the " stellate " type of gardens, and it would be interesting 

 to know if this group was evolved from the type itself or is the result of 

 selection. If it is the latter it is a most interesting case of reversion. 



Three other Ichang plants should not be omitted, since they are now 

 grown in nearly every English garden : these are Primula obconica, 

 Lilium Henryi, and Corydalis thalictri folia. 



Another interesting fact, and one which has a peculiar relation to the 

 flora of Western Hupeh, is the number of plants, bearing the specific name 

 japonica, which are only Japanese by cultivation and are really Chinese 

 in origin. The following well-known plants are examples : Aucuba 

 laponica, Anemone japonica, Iris japonica, Eriobotry a japonica, Lonicera 

 iaponica, Kerria japonica, Spircea japonica, Senecio japonicus, and Styrax 

 japonicum. Whilst admitting that some may be common to both countries 

 I am convinced that, when the subject is properly threshed out, it will be 

 found that there are fewer plants common to both countries than are at 

 present supposed to be. In addition to the many plants peculiar to 

 Western Hupeh and those common to other parts of China, an interesting 

 admixture of Himalayan and European plants also occurs. The former 

 are fairly abundant up to 4,000 feet. As examples I might mention 



