126 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA, 
Chap. VIII. 
visit ; and in the spring months, when most of the plants 
are in bloom, they have a singularly gorgeous and 
imposing appearance, and really deserve the poetical 
name of " Fa-tee," or flowery land, which the Chinese 
have given them. 
At this period the Chinese were making great prepa- 
ei'^" rations for the celebration of New Year's Day, which then 
xV^ fell on the 18th of February. Flowers of all kinds were 
in great demand amongst the inhabitants, who employ 
them in the decoration of their houses and temples. In 
going up the river towards the Fa-tee gardens I met 
boats in great numbers loaded with branches of peach 
and plum trees in bloom, Enkianthus quinqueflorus, 
camellias, cockscombs, magnolias, and various other 
plants which flower at this season. The Enkianthus is 
brought down from the hills with the buds just ex- 
panding ; and after being placed in water for a day or 
two the flowers come out as healthy and fresh as if the 
branches had not been removed from the parent tree. 
This plant is a great favourite amongst the Chinese. 
V The common jonquil too comes in for a very extensive 
share of patronage ; and in the streets of Canton one 
meets with thousands of bulbs growing in small pans 
amongst water and a few white stones. In this case the 
Chinese exhibit their peculiar propensity for dwarf and 
monstrous growth, by planting the bulbs upside down, a.nd 
making the plants and flowers assume curious twisted 
forms, which appear to be so agreeable to the eyes of a 
Chinaman. Large quantities of all these flowers are 
exposed for sale in many of the shops and in the comers 
of the streets in Canton, where they seem to be eagerly 
