398 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



was again introduced into Europe, in 1789, it was absolutely unknown 

 in Holland. 



G. indicum is also a native of China, where it was first gathered in 

 1751, and was cultivated by Phillip Miller in the Chelsea Physic Gardens 

 in 1764. 



Rosa indica, the Chinese monthly Rose and parent of the Tea Rose, 

 is a native of Central China, where wild specimens were discovered by 

 Dr. Henry. It was first introduced into this country by Sir Joseph Banks 

 in 1789. 



To illustrate our indebtedness to China in the matter of our national 

 flower, I might mention the following species : Rosa multiflora, R. 

 Wichuraiana, R. bracteata, R. Banksiae, R. rugosa. Take away these 

 and their progeny and our Rose gardens would present a very sorry 

 appearance. 



There are altogether about thirty species of Roses in China, and Rose 

 bushes are extraordinarily abundant. In warmer parts, R. laevigata, R. 

 microcarpa, R. Banksiae, and R. moschata hang from cliffs or festoon 

 the trees and bushes, while R. sericea in the woods is a wealth of white 

 flowers. The variety pteracantha of the last species, on grassy and 

 scrub-clad hills above 4,000 feet, is a mass of white in early summer 

 and a mass of orange or scarlet in early autumn, while its long-winged 

 crimson, translucent prickles make it beautiful from early spring to the 

 fall of the leaf. 



To China also Ave owe Clematis lanuginosa, one of the parents of 

 the favourite C. Jackmannii, C. patens, C. florida, G. hakonensis, C. 

 Sieboldii, and others. C. lanuginosa is a doubtful native of Japan, but 

 both Dr. Henry and myself have collected wild specimens in China. 



Rhododendrons like R. sinense (Azalea mollis) and R. indicum 

 (Azalea indica), which in places clothe the hills with scarlet, Camellias, 

 China Asters (Callistephus hortensis), the Chinese Primula, the Sweet 

 Orange, Mandarin Orange, and the Peach, all have their native home 

 in China, and the last was introduced to Persia and Europe in all 

 probability by way of the old trade route from China through Bokhara. 



Some idea of the great wealth of plants in China may be gathered 

 from a glance at the following list of the more important genera repre- 

 sented there : — 



Scnecio. — One hundred and ten species in woodlands and by alpine 

 stream sides. 



Clematis. — Sixty-five species in woods and shrubby places, including 

 C. montana, C. florida, C. heracleaefolia and its variety Davidiana, C. 

 tangutica, and C. oricntalis. 



Berbcris. — Thirty species, of which mention may be made of B. 

 Wallichiana, B. asiatica, and B. nepalensis, found in woods, not in 

 shrubberies. 



Pntnus. — Fifty species, including the Peach, P. triloba, and many 

 Cherries. 



Pyrus occupies in China the place filled by Crataegus in the United 

 States. The genus is at present in a state of chaos, but at least thirty 

 species are found in China, and probably many more. P. spectabilis, 

 P. Aucuparia, and several with white fruits, and various species of the 



