H ugh Cvans 
Some of the first plants from abroad which 
came into Europe and England were brought from 
Japan by the Dutch who were the earliest Occiden- 
tals to have a foothold in that country. With the 
granting of the Royal Charter to the British East 
Indian Company by Queen Elizabeth in 1600, con- 
siderable stimulus was given to the introduction 
of plants from abroad, but it was not until the 
latter part of the |8th century that the introducing 
of plants was done on any comprehensive or con- 
siderable scale. 
By that time, the ships of the trading companies 
which had acquired a number of treaty ports in 
China and the far east carried on their decks 
greenhouses and Wardian cases for the safe hous- 
ing of plants. They carried, in addition, botanists 
and trained gardeners, many from the Royal Botanic 
Gardens of Kew. Sir Joseph Banks, the famous 
director of Kew Gardens, who sailed with Captain 
Cook, was indefatigable in the promotion and fur- 
therness of these operations. 
From all parts of the world ships were rounding 
the Horn, or the Cape of Good Hope freighted 
with horticultural treasures. Some of these, as Eu- 
rope was in a state of war for a considerable period 
of this time, were sunk or captured by privateers, 
or enemy ships, and in many cases the plants were 
lost and the unfortunate plant collectors languished 
in a foreign jail. It is stated that the first Cycas 
revoluta (Sago Palm} a large specimen from Japan, 
was cut in half by a cannonball on its way over to 
England, an interesting yarn, though | am not pre- 
pared to vouch for its accuracy. 
PRINCESS FLOWER ... 
(Continued from front page) 
ing from fuzzy rose pink buds to magnificent three-. 
inch flowers surmounted by ten curling purplish 
stamen. The bush itself is open of structure, carrying 
hairy green leaves touched with rose, and will reach 
ten feet in a well-drained situation protected from 
wind and too much sun. Uniform moisture and 
some acidity are also desirable for its culture. 
Although other South American Tibouchinas had 
been grown in California for some time prior to ~ 
the arrival of this Princess flower, none could match 
its size of flower and relative compactness of plant. 
This point was made to Mr. Hugh Evans by a noted 
visitor, W. H. Anderson, the foremost plant man 
of Sydney, Australia, who promptly volunteered to 
send specimens of this plant developed ‘'down 
under’. Straightway two were placed aboard ship 
and transmitted to San Francisco where they were 
inhospitably received by inspectors as they arrived 
without papers, and were forthwith burned. On 
receipt of a ‘'censorable'' commentary on the pro- 
ceedings, Mr. Anderson shipped an additional three 
lt’s Time For... 
(Continued from front page) 
Wallflower as quickly as possible. 
And now for bulb beds: spade 
deep, turn several times working 
in bonemeal, Humisite, Bowsoilyte 
and superphosphate, all generous- 
ly. The first and last items supply 
phosphoric acid and potash, the 
Bowsoilyfe a well-balanced mild 
diet (none of these will burn), and 
the Humisite loosens the ground 
and keeps it friable. And make 
these beds serve double purposes 
— bulbs and a cover of annuals. 
After the daffodils are in, plant 
Pansies between. In a grouping of 
white Narcissi try blue and yellow 
Violas; Iceland Poppies with Dutch 
Iris; Nemesia with Anemones. 
Stop feeding Camellias now, 
unless you belong to the school of 
thought which advocates feeding 
them lightly throughout the year. 
(Good results may be obtained 
from either theory if you're con- 
sistent). Also slow up on your 
feeding program for Hibiscus, 
Distictis, tender forms of Sola- 
num, and all materials subject to 
frost damage in winter. Fertilizer 
now makes soft growth easily 
nipped later, especially if you're 
inland where winter cold damage 
is frequent. 
Other plants at their peak of 
bloom in September include Ole- 
ander, Cassia, Bouvardia, Tibou- 
china, and Helianthus angustifolius. 
plant in the personal charge of the 
Captain of the steamer Tahiti, a 
mutual friend, and cabled ahead 
of their imminent arrival. This pro- 
duced a rash of activity at the 
port of San Francisco’ where the 
aid of the Mayor, also a mutual 
friend, was enlisted. He personally 
stepped aboard the ship and un- 
der his immunity escorted the 
Captain ashore, each concealing 
Tibouchinas beneath their over- 
coats! One of these plants can be 
seen today in Golden Gate Park, 
while from Evans and Reeves’ have 
come all these magnificent shrubs 
in the West. 
One gallon cans, 85 cents— 
five gallons, $3.75. 
