BOTANY OF HONGKONG (2) Continuation.
The Pinus senensis, which is met with on the sides of every barren hill both in the south and north of China, and which is generally badly used by the natives, who lop off its under branches for fuel, is growing as it ought to do. The Chinese have been prevented not without some difficulty, from cutting off the under branches, and the tree now shows itself in its natural beauty. It does not seem to grow large, but in a young state, with its fine green foliage reaching to the ground, it is not unhandsome.
As the main walk approaches the terrace on which the house stands it turns to the right between two rows of beautiful yellow bamboos. This species of bamboo is a very striking one, and well worthy of some consideration in England, the stems are straight of a fine yellow colour and beautifully striped with green, as if done by the hand of a first-rate artist. I sent a plant of it to the Horticultural Society in 1844.
At the bottom of the terrace on which the house stands, there is a long narrow bamboo avenue which is called the "orchid walk."
This always affords a cool retreat even at mid-day as the rays of the sun can only partially reach it, and then they are cooled by the dense foliage. Here are cultivated many of the Chinese orchids and other plants which require shade. There are also various other plants which taken altogether render this shaded "orchid walk" a spot of much interest.
BOTANY OF HONGKONG (3)
Above the "orchid walk" is a green sloping bank on which are growing some fine specimens of bamboos, myrtles, oleanders (which thrive admirably in China) and Buddleia Lindleyana. The latter was brought down from Chusan by me in 1844, and is now common in several gardens on the island where it thrives well and is almost always in bloom, although the flower spikes are not so fine as they are in a colder climate. A large collection of plants in pots is arranged on each side of the broad terrace in front of the mansion. These consist of camellias, azaleas, roses and such plants as were seen in the Fa-tee gardens at Canton. Many of the posts are prettily painted in the Chinese style and placed upon porcelain stands.
When it is remembered that six years before Hongkong was but a barren island with only a few huts upon it, inhabited by pirates or poor fishermen, it is surprising in so short a time a large town should have risen upon the shores of the bay containing many houses like palaces and gardens too, such as this which enliven and beautify the whole, and add greatly to the recreation, comfort and health of the inhabitants.
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