Chap. I. 



MESSRS. DENT'S GARDEN. 



7 



in the same part of the garden, but it grows much 

 slower than the species just noticed. On the other 

 side of the main walk I observed several specimens 

 of the Indian "neem" tree (Melia Azedarach), which 

 grows with great vigour, but is rather liable to have 

 its branches broken by high winds, owing to the 

 brittle nature of the wood. This defect renders it of 

 less value than it otherwise would be, particularly in 

 a place so liable to high winds and typhoons. This 

 same Melia seems to be found all round the world in 

 tropical and temperate latitudes ; I believe it exists 

 in South America, and I have seen it in Gibraltar, 

 Malta, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, the Straits, and in the 

 south and north of China, at least as far north as the 

 31st degree of north latitude. Amongst other plants 

 worthy of notice in this part of the garden are the 

 Chinese cinnamon, the pretty Aglaia odorata, and 

 Murray a exotica, both of which are very sweet 

 scented and much cultivated by the Chinese. Two 

 specimens of the cocoa-nut palm imported from the 

 Straits are promising well. Other fruits — such as the 

 loquat {Eriobotrya japonica) , the Chinese gooseberry 

 (Averrhoa Carambola), the wangpee ( Cookia punc- 

 tata), and the longan and leechee — are all succeeding 

 as well as could be expected, considering the short time 

 they have been planted. The Pinus sinensis, which 

 is met with on the sides of every barren hill, both in 

 the south and north of China, and which is generally 

 badly used by the natives, who lop off its under 

 branches for fuel, is here growing as it ought to do. 

 The Chinese have been prevented, not without some 



