Chap. VII. 



THE ENKIANTHUS. 



129 



with stones and large pieces of granite which have 

 become detached from the rocks. The plant delights 

 in fixing itself in the crevices of the rock, and is often 

 found in such situations with very little soil about its 

 roots. About the end of April or beginning of May, 

 at the change of the monsoon, the wet season begins. 

 The Enkianthus then grows most luxuriantly, and all 

 the leaves, buds, and shoots are then fully formed, 

 i In the autumn, with the exception of a week or two 

 in September, the weather is dry and very hot. At 

 this period the branches and buds of the plants get 

 perfectly ripened, many of the leaves fall off, and the 

 plant, having formed its secretions for the following 

 year, remains in a dormant condition during the 

 winter, which in Hong-kong is cool and dry. In the 

 hottest months in the year, namely, June, July, and 

 August, the maximum temperature in the shade 

 rarely exceeds 90° Fahr., but on a clear day one of 

 my thermometers indicated 140° in the sun. In 

 winter, although the north winds are cold and piercing, 

 frost and snow are almost unknown in this part of 

 China. When the first impulse is given to vegetation 

 by spring the Enkianthus bursts into bloom, and the 

 sides of the barren hills become gay with its number- 

 less flowers. 



This is the way in which Nature treats this charm- 

 ing plant, and we must follow her example before we 

 can hope to see it half so beautiful as it is on its 

 native mountains. There are, however, two cir- 

 cumstances connected with its success in its natural 

 state which are difficult if not impossible to imitate, 



