Old Hong Kong-2 — Page 259

Old Hong Kong 昔日香港 All AI Reviewed

1100

In the orchid-house, which was covered with mats and straw, all our best orchids have suffered very greatly, many being entirely killed, while others were so much injured that, even if they survive, it may be some years before they regain their previous luxuriant state. A healthy plant, received from Celoutte several years ago, of Dendrobium aggregatum, is apparently killed, while plants of the same species growing by its side, and also others on trees where they had no shelter, which I collected 10 years ago on the Lo-fau mountains, about 60 miles from Canton, have escaped unharmed. This seems to show the capability of the plant in adapting itself to colder regions than it is generally found in.

In ordinary winters, the temperature is too low for many kinds of orchids, and other tender plants. These should be provided with glass houses in which a little artificial heat could be maintained.

Tender pot plants generally were removed to sheltered places and covered with mats.

The highest point of the Gardens is 320 feet above sea level, the lowest part 175 feet. Some plants of the same kind which were damaged at the upper portions were uninjured at the lower parts of the Garden.

On exotic trees planted on the hills, Albizzia Lebbek, Aleurites triloba (candle-nut-tree), and Eugenia Jambos (the rose-apple tree) had all their leaves killed at and upwards of 600 feet above sea level. Trees of the rose apple at about 800 feet altitude have been entirely killed.

At 600 feet altitude, indigenous plants began to be affected, the injuries increasing with higher altitude until at about 900 feet, when the extreme limit of low temperature which some plants could bear was reached, and death ensued. Most of these are tropical plants of which Hongkong, Formosa, the Luchu Islands in the Far East, and Sikkim and Himalaya in India, are the northern limits of the geographical area from which they have been recorded. Of the plants killed or injured, Ficus harlandi, Gordonia anomala, and Garcinia oblongifolia, are known only from Hongkong. Although many of our indigenous plants have not been yet discovered elsewhere, (says Mr. Ford) it is expected that when China is better known, they will be found over a larger area than the restricted one of this island. The fact of the above-named plants having succumbed to the late frost indicates that when they are discovered elsewhere, they will be found southward of Hongkong.

The

Considerable damage to vegetation seems to have been caused about Canton, where the alluvial lands are highly cultivated. Rev. Dr. B. C. Henry, in a letter dated 26th January, informs me (Mr. Ford) that:

"The destruction of vegetation about Canton has been very great. The banana plantations are ruined, and the bamboos have suffered. The Aleurites triloba look all shrivelled up, while Begonias, Euphorbias, Crotons, and scores of others are simply destroyed."

What Dr. Henry reports indicates severer weather at Canton than here, as is proved by the reports of the steamers above referred to; Aleurites triloba leaves being shrivelled up at Canton, while they are here at 300 feet altitude uninjured; at 600 feet here they are affected, and completely destroyed a little higher up the hill.

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1100 5. In the orchid-house, which was covered with mats and straw, all our best orchids have suffered very greatly, many being entirely killed, while others were so much injured that, even if they survive, it may be some years before they regain their previous luxuriant state. A healthy plant, received from Celoutte several years ago, of Dendrobium aggregatum, is apparently killed, while plants of the same species growing by its side, and also others on trees where they had no shelter, which I collected 10 years ago on the Lo-fau mountains, about 60 miles from Canton, have escaped unharmed. This seems to show the capability of the plant in adapting itself to colder regions than it is generally found in. In ordinary winters, the temperature is too low for many kinds of orchids, and other tender plants. These should be provided with glass houses in which a little artificial heat could be maintained. Tender pot plants generally were removed to sheltered places and covered with mats. The highest point of the Gardens is 320 feet above sea level, the lowest part 175 feet. Some plants of the same kind which were damaged at the upper portions were uninjured at the lower parts of the Garden. *A On exotic trees planted on the hills, Albizzia Lebbek, Aleurites triloba (candle-nut-tree), and Eugenia Jambos (the rose-apple tree) had all their leaves killed at and upwards of 600 feet above sea level. Trees of the rose apple at about 800 feet altitude have been entirely killed. At 600 feet altitude, indigenous plants began to be affected, the injuries increasing with higher altitude until at about 900 feet, when the extreme limit of low temperature which some plants could bear was reached, and death ensued. Most of these are tropical plants of which Hongkong, Formosa, the Luchu Islands in the Far East, and Sikkim and Himalaya in India, are the northern limits of the geographical area from which they have been recorded. Of the plants killed or injured, Ficus harlandi, Gordonia anomala, and Garcinia oblongifolia, are known only from Hongkong. Although many of our indigenous plants have not been yet discovered elsewhere, (says Mr. Ford) it is expected that when China is better known, they will be found over a larger area than the restricted one of this island. The fact of the above-named plants having succumbed to the late frost indicates that when they are discovered elsewhere, they will be found southward of Hongkong. The Considerable damage to vegetation seems to have been caused about Canton, where the alluvial lands are highly cultivated. Rev. Dr. B. C. Henry, in a letter dated 26th January, informs me (Mr. Ford) that: "The destruction of vegetation about Canton has been very great. The banana plantations are ruined, and the bamboos have suffered. The Aleurites triloba look all shrivelled up, while Begonias, Euphorbias, Crotons, and scores of others are simply destroyed." What Dr. Henry reports indicates severer weather at Canton than here, as is proved by the reports of the steamers above referred to; Aleurites triloba leaves being shrivelled up at Canton, while they are here at 300 feet altitude uninjured; at 600 feet here they are affected, and completely destroyed a little higher up the hill. but

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1100 5. In the orchid-house, which was covered with mats and straw, all our best orchids have suffered very greatly many being entirely killed while others were so much injured that, even if they survive, it may be some years before they regain the ir previous luxuriant state. A healthy plant, received from Celoutte several years ago, of Dendrobium aggregatum, is apparently killed, while plants of the same species growing by its side, and also others on trees where they had no shelter, which I collected 10 years ago on the Lo-fau mountains, about 60 miles from Canton, have escaped unharmed. This seems to show the capability of the plant in adapting itself to colder regions than it is generally found it. In ordinary winters the tempereture is too low for many kinds of orchids, and other tender plants. These should be provided with glass houses in which a little artificial heat could be meinteined. Tender pot plants generally were removed to sheltered places and covered with mats. The highest point of the Gardens is 320 feet above sea level, the lowest part 175 feet. Some plants of the same kind a which were damaged at the upper portions were uninjured at the lower. parts of the Garden 8. *A On exotic trees planted on the hills, Albizzia Lebbek, Aleurites triloba (candle-nut-tree) and Eugenia Jambos (the rose-apple tree) had all the ir leaves killed at and upwards of 600 feet above sea level. Trees of the rose apple at about 800 feet sltitude have been entirely killed. At 600 feet eltitude indigenous plents began to be affected, the injuries increasing with higher altitude until at ab out 900 feet, when the extreme limit of low temperature which some plants could bear was reached, and death ensued. Most of these are tropical plants of which Hongkong, Formosa, the Luchu Islands in the Far East, and Sikkim and Himalaye in India, are the northern Limite of the geographical area from which they have been recorded. Of the plants killed or injured, Ficus harlandi, Gordonia anomala, and Garcinia oblongifòlia, are known only from Hongkong. Although many of our indigenous plants have not been yet discovered elsewhere, (says Mr. Ford) it is expected that when China is better known they will be found over a larger eree than the restricted one of this island. The fact of the above named plants having succumbed to the late frost indicates that when they ere discovered elsewhere they will be found southward of Hongkong. The Considerable damage to vegetation seems to have been caused about Canton, where the alluviel lends are highly cultivated. Rev.Dr.B.C. Henry, in a letter dated 26th. January, informe me (Mr. Ford) that: "The destruction of vegetation about Canton has been very great. The banana plantations are ruined, and the bamboos have suffered. The Aleurites triloba look all shrivelled up, while Begonias, Euphorbias, Crotons and scores of others are simply destroyed.* What Dr. Henry reports indicates severer weather at Canton than here, as is proved by the reports of the steamers above referred to, Aleurites triloba leaves being shrivelled up at Canton, while they are here at 300 feet altitude uninjured; at 600 feet here they are affected, end completely destroyed a little higher up the hill. but

2026-05-02 11:21:43 · Baseline

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1100

In the orchid-house, which was covered with mats and straw, all our best orchids have suffered very greatly many being entirely killed while others were so much injured that, even if they survive, it may be some years before they regain the ir previous luxuriant state. A healthy plant, received from Celoutte several years ago, of Dendrobium aggregatum, is apparently killed, while plants of the same species growing by its side, and also others on trees where they had no shelter, which I collected 10 years ago on the Lo-fau mountains, about 60 miles from Canton, have escaped unharmed. This seems to show the capability of the plant in adapting itself to colder regions than it is generally found it.

In ordinary winters the tempereture is too low for many kinds of orchids, and other tender plants. These should be provided with glass houses in which a little artificial heat could be meinteined.

Tender pot plants generally were removed to sheltered places and covered with mats.

The highest point of the Gardens is 320 feet above sea level, the lowest part 175 feet. Some plants of the same kind a which were damaged at the upper portions were uninjured at the lower. parts of the Garden 8.

On exotic trees planted on the hills, Albizzia Lebbek, Aleurites triloba (candle-nut-tree) and Eugenia Jambos (the rose-apple tree) had all the ir leaves killed at and upwards of 600 feet above sea level. Trees of the rose apple at about 800 feet sltitude have been entirely killed.

At 600 feet eltitude indigenous plents began to be affected, the injuries increasing with higher altitude until at ab out 900 feet, when the extreme limit of low temperature which some plants could bear was reached, and death ensued. Most of these are tropical plants of which Hongkong, Formosa, the Luchu Islands in the Far East, and Sikkim and Himalaye in India, are the northern Limite of the geographical area from which they have been recorded. Of the plants killed or injured, Ficus harlandi, Gordonia anomala, and Garcinia oblongifòlia, are known only from Hongkong. Although many of our indigenous plants have not been yet discovered elsewhere, (says Mr. Ford) it is expected that when China is better known they will be found over a larger eree than the restricted one of this island. The fact of the above named plants having succumbed to the late frost indicates that when they ere discovered elsewhere they will be found southward of Hongkong.

The

Considerable damage to vegetation seems to have been caused about Canton, where the alluviel lends are highly cultivated. Rev.Dr.B.C. Henry, in a letter dated 26th. January, informe me (Mr. Ford) that:

What Dr. Henry reports indicates severer weather at Canton than here, as is proved by the reports of the steamers above referred to, Aleurites triloba leaves being shrivelled up at Canton, while they are here at 300 feet altitude uninjured; at 600 feet here they are affected, end completely destroyed a little higher up the hill.

Old Hong Kong-2 — Page 259

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