418 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 20, 1905.' 
The Horticultural Club. 
“ Wanderings in China.” 
Subsequently to the usual monthly dinner of this club at the 
Hotel Windsor, on Tuesday, the 9tli inst., when Sir John 
Llewellyn presided, and some forty odd members and friends 
were present, Mr. E. H. W ilson read an extremely interesting 
paper, entitled as above, and exhibited a large number of 
dried specimens of new plants found by him, and of photo- 
graphs depicting the scenery, etc., which he traversed in the 
course of his research. Mr. Wilson spent some five years in 
the interior of China, exploring its little known mountain 
regions on behalf of Messrs. 1 eitch, and in that time dis¬ 
covered and introduced living specimens and seeds of no 
less than 1,000 new and rare plants, while his distinct her¬ 
barium specimens reached no less a total than over 5,000. 
His written paper fortunately permits of verbatim 
publication of his lecture in the “Journal of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society,” in which it will undoubtedly form one of 
the most interesting of recent contributions to horticultural 
and botanical literature. In the subsequent discussion, Dr. 
Henry and Mr. Watson took a prominent part, the former 
supplementing Mr. Wilson’s data by his own experiences in 
the same country, and on the same quest, and the latter 
paying a well-deserved tribute to the lecturer s perseverance 
and ability, as exemplified by his career, commencing at Kew 
and, for the time being, culminating in the great success of his 
travels, as demonstrated. 
Amongst other things, the truly marvellous character of 
China, as the source of new and valuable plants, and the 
immensity of the field which still remains to be explored, 
were illustrated by the fact that, while it is possible to traverse 
the European Alps on foot in a few days, it would need double 
as many months to cross that vast mountainous area in China 
and Tibet, which is really an uninterrupted continuation of the 
mighty Himalayan ranges of India. Every fresh region ex¬ 
plored yields a fresh series of new and rare plants, and, despite 
the five years’ research of Mr. Wilson, and the twenty years’ 
of Dr. Henry, the regions they have both explored represent 
the merest patches on the map as compared with the whole 
area. 
What must we think of a country in which a single hill 
yielded 70 species of Ferns alone, and a single district 300; 
while innumerable genera of other plants, represented by a 
few species hitherto, are there found represented by scores 
of distinct ones, even the Rhododendron ranging from huge 
trees 100 feet high down to tiny alpine plants under its 
varied specific forms? Vivid pictures were drawn of mountain 
flanks entirely clothed with floriferous shrubs and herbaceous 
plants, such as the newly introduced Meconopsis integrifolia, 
a huge golden-yellow Poppywort, which, as Dr. Henry said, 
seemed to have tried to be a Tulip, so like are its huge blos¬ 
soms, and of which a fine specimen appropriately faced the 
president. 
A veiy large number of quite new herbaceous plants have 
been introduced by Mr. Wilson, and this one is one of the 
first to declare itself, and many others, we are told, are bound 
to follow soon, while some of the floriferous trees and shrubs 
on the list of introductions are predicted to become unique 
marvels of beauty as soon as they have reached the flowering 
stage in Messrs. Veitch’s skilful hands. In these days of facile 
travel we are apt to assume that little more remains to ex¬ 
plore of the earth’s surface, but it is abundantly obvious from 
Mr. Wilson’s and Dr. Henry’s remarks that in China alone 
there is a practically inexhaustible field, while, thanks to the 
lofty elevation at which most of the treasures are found, they 
are mostly perfectly hardy, and thus admirably adapted for 
general culture and enjoyment, instead of being confined to 
the stoves and warm houses of the wealthy. 
Allusion was made to the fact that a large number of 
plants, whose botanical name of japonica indicate Japanese 
origin, are more properly Chinese, and in many cases were 
introduced thence into Japan. The photographs exhibited 
showed that the scenery is of the grandest description, while the 
perils which ever accompany travelling in virgin regions were 
vividly shown by views of the tremendous rapids which had to 
be traversed in a comparatively frail boat which formed the 
chief means of conveyance, while the fact that Mr. Wilson 
was in China during the Boxer troubles, and yet never had any 
trouble with the natives, speaks volumes for his savoir fa ire 
and sangfroid , to use appropriate, terse French phrases 
instead of more cumbrous English ones. 
A very hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer, who, 
to the great satisfaction of his hearers, promised to give a 
further instalment of his experiences, illustrated with lantern 
slides. Nor was it forgotten to express the club’s hearty 
recognition of the spirit of enterprise of Messrs. Veitch, to 
whom the initiative of Mr. Wilson’s efforts was due, and to 
whom, consequently, the whole horticultural world will be 
primarily indebted for the many additional garden gems of 
the first water which will undoubtedly grace our parterres in 
the near future. 
Kalmias. 
Among the many beautiful free-flowering hardy shrubs 
which at this season of the year are producing their goro-eous 
and varied forms of inflorescence, few stand out more con¬ 
spicuously and arouse greater admiration within the precincts 
of the garden than these delightful North American shrubs. 
At the time of writing I have under my special notice a bed 
of the dwarf-growing species, K. glauca. This species was'in¬ 
troduced so long ago as 1736, and is undoubtedly one of the 
most exquisite members of the genus. It forms a neat, com¬ 
pact plant, rarely assuming the height of more than 2 ft,, and 
may be readily characterised by its nearly sessile, oblong 
leaves, w hich are of a whitish glaucous colour on the under 
surface. The flowers are borne in great profusion in terminal 
corymbs, and are in colour an enchanting lilac-pink. K. angus- 
tifolia is a somewhat taller growing species, but like the last 
mentioned, is exceptionally free flowering, producing a profu¬ 
sion of rosy-red, salver-shaped blossoms. K. latifolia may be 
said to> be the strongest growing member of the whole family, 
often attaining to the height of from 6 ft. to 8 ft. It may be 
readily distinguished by its shining deep green leaves, and, 
apart from its beautiful inflorescence, forms a most ornamental 
shrub. The last-mentioned specie's is also an exceedingly 
useful subject for forcing. Its large clusters of beautiful salver¬ 
shaped blooms never fail to be appreciated when brought into 
flower early in the year. Under the treatment which is usually 
adopted for Rhododendrons, no difficulties should accrue in the 
management of these most interesting members of the natural 
order Ericaceae. It is of the utmost importance, however, 
that the situation in which they are to be planted should be 
well drained. Nothing conduces more to*their ill-success than 
neglect of this important item of drainage. There can be no 
doubt that in certain situations where the existing soil is fairly 
light and contains a. fail’ amount of humus, Kalmias thrive com¬ 
paratively well, but where the soil is of a highly retentive 
nature, it is always advisable to incorporate with it quantities 
of peat, leaf-soil, and sand, and providing, as aforementioned, 
consideration has been given to remedying any defect in 
natural drainage, these exquisite shrubs will continue to' flower 
year after year with unvarying success. From the middle of 
September to the end of October are about the most favourable 
times for planting. Propagation may be effected from cut¬ 
tings, layers, or seed. Oides. 
Blue-eyed Mary. 
r lhe' creeping Forget-me-not, Omphalodes vena, sometimes 
called-Blue-eyed Mary, has been found in English gardens for 
several hundred years. Blooming from February until the 
late spring, the Gentian-like flowers of this plant supply a 
charming picture, especially when grown in large informal 
masses in the wild garden. It is exceedingly easy of cultiva¬ 
tion, but it delights in moisture and shade, although it is 
partial to a little sunshine during a portion of the day. Mois¬ 
ture, however, is not absolutely essential so long as a. little 
shade be provided. 
