Plate 221 . 
SAXIPRAGA PQRTUNI. 
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One of the most remarkable things connected with the recent 
discoveries of botanical treasures in Japan by Mr. E. Fortune 
and Mr. H. J. Veitch was the immense variety of variegated 
plants which were there cultivated. This variegation was to be 
seen not only in shrubs of all kinds,—for there were variegated 
Camellias and Tea-plants,—but in forest trees, the beautiful 
TJiuiojpsis dolabrata variegcda for example; while JRetinospora , 
Osmanthus , Acer , and other fine trees were found with golden 
and silver markings, and even such humble things as the Saxi¬ 
frage,—almost justifying the statement of Dr. Siebold, that he 
could make a variegated form of any plant. 
It is surely strange that while we, with our advanced tastes 
on the subject of horticulture, are only just now beginning to 
see the advantage of introducing these variegated forms into 
our landscape gardening, for centuries this singular people 
have been quite alive to their value, and have cultivated so 
many forms of variegated plants, many of which, if proved to 
be hardy in our climate, will be very valuable; and great as are 
the treasures which have been brought to us by the indefati¬ 
gable labours of our countrymen, there is good reason to hope 
that the recent operations in Japan, the opening-up of the in¬ 
land sea, and the greater facilities likely to be given to European 
enterprise, may be the means of adding still further to our list 
of useful and beautiful things,—not so much so perhaps as in 
other countries, for the Japanese being great lovers of garden¬ 
ing, are likely enough to have obtained from their own country 
those things most useful to them, as well, as we know they have 
done, importing them from other countries. 
The humble little Saxifrage is a general favourite amongst 
