BOTANY OF HONGKONG (3) Continuation.
"If we except the troops in the new barracks the inhabitants, generally at least those who use common precaution are enjoying as good health as falls to the lot of our countrymen elsewhere in Eastern countries, but the state of the troops has been until very lately most melancholy and alarming. General D'Aguilar, when commander-in-Chief in the Colony, predicted the loss, in three years of a number equal the strength of one regiment and his prediction has been almost verified. This sacrifice of human life is fearful to contemplate. The merchant may complain of dullness of trade in the Colony the political economist may cry out about its expensiveness but these matters sink into insignificance when compared with such loss of human life.
Perhaps I might add a few comments for the benefit of local horticulturists.
The fact that Fortune introduced Buddleia Lindleyana to Hongkong from Chusan is interesting: It is found still as an escape from cultivation, in the ravines above the city its purple flowers opening from August to December.
The Neem tree he mentions is the pretty Persian lilac, which is also found naturalised, growing here and there in the Colony in a wild state.
The local Pine tree is now re-named Pinus Massoniana the other plants he mentions are still found in cultivation in the Colony.
Fortune's comments on the value of tree-planting and the merits of the Banyan must be of particular interest to Kowloon residents to-day.
I have an interesting letter from a correspondent L. C. D., on the subject of trees and tree felling. He writes: In addition to the vicissitudes of Typhoon drought, the axe et cetera,
not to mention the recent Nathan Road assault across the Bay - it may be of interest to your readers to learn that the now eminently beautiful trees of the Colony also had their "enemies" in their younger days, as indicated in the following open letter which appeared in the Friend of China and Hongkong Gazette on April 4, 1849.
To Editor of the Friend of China, Hongkong 3d. April, 1849.
BOTANY OF HONGKONG (3) Continuation.
"If we except the troops in the new barracks the inhabitants, generally at least those who use common precaution are nejoying as good health as falls to the lot of our countrymen elsewhere in Eastern countries, but the state of the troops has been until very lately most melancholy and alarming. General D'aguilar, when commander-in-Chief in the Colony, predicted the loss, in three years of a number equal the streght of one regiment and his prediction has been almost verified. This savrifice of human life is fearful to contemplate. The merchant may complain of dullness of trade in the Colony the political economist may cry out about its expensiveness but these matters sink into insignificance when compared with such loss of human life.
Berhaps I might add a few comments for the benifit of local horticulturists.
The fact that Fortune introduced Buddleia Lindleyana to Hongkong from Chusan is interesting: It is found sill as an escape from cultivation, in the ravines above the city its purple flowers opening from August to December.
The #t neem tree he mentions is the pretty Persian lilac, which is also found naturalised, growing here and there in the Colony in a wild state.
The local Pine tree is now re-named Pinus Massb niana the other plants he mentions are still found in cultivation in the Colony.
Fortune's comments on the value of tree-planting and the merits of the banyang must be of particular interest to Kowloon residents to-day 1
I have an interesting letter from a correspondent L. C. D., on the subject of trees and tree felling. He writes : In addition to the vicissitudes of Typhoon drought, the axe et cetera, -,
-, not to mention the recent Nathan Road assault across the Bay - it may be of interest to your readers to learn that the now eminently beautiful trees of the Colony also had their " enenmies in their younger days, as indicated in the following open letter which appeared in the Friend of China and Hongkong Gazette on april 4. 1849.
11
*To Editor of the Friend of China, Hongkong 3d. April, 1849.
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