The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-10-01 00:00:00

MISCELLANEA.

CHINESE GROTTOES AND 14.0 CKWORK .—Among the
Mandarins' gardens, in the city of Ning-po, there is one
in particular which is generally visited by all strangers,
and is much admired. It is situated near the lake in the
centre of the city. The old man to whom it belongs has
long retired from trade with an independent fortune, and
he now enjoys his declining years in the peaceful pursuits
of gardening, and is passionately fond of flowers. Both
his house and garden are unique in their way, but they
are most difficult to describe, and must be seen to be ap-
preciated. In this part, of the country the building of ar-
tificial rockwork is so well understood, that the resem-
blance to nature is perfect, and it forms a principal feature
in every garden. This old gentleman has the different
parts of his house joined together by rude-I6oking ca-
verns, and what at first sight appeared to be a subterra-
neous passage, leading from room to room, through which
the visitor passes to the garden, which lies behind the
houie. The small courts, of which a glimpse is caught in
passing through, are fitted up with this roekwork ; dwarf
trees are planted here and there in various places, and
creepers hang down naturally and gracefully until their
• ends touch the little ponds of water which are always
placed in front of the rockwork. These small places be-
ing passed, we are again led through passages like those
already noticed, when the garden, with its dwarf trees,
vases, rockwork, ornamental windows, and beautiful
flo tiering shrubs, is suddenly opened to the view. It must
be understood, however, that all which I have now de-
scribed is very limited in extent, but the most is made of
it by windings and glimpses through rockwork, and
arches in the walls, as well as by hiding the boundary
with a mass of shrubs and trees. Here old Dr. Chang—
I believe that was his name—was spending the evening of
his days in peaceful retirement. When I called upon him
be was extremely polite, and, after making a great many
very low bows, requested me to take the seat of honour by
his side. The servants were then ordered to bring tea, a
beverage which is offered to every stranger, and which was
of the very finest description. Messengers were sent round
to all the old man's particular friends, who each hurried
to see the foreigner. One by one they dropt in, until the
room was nearly full. The servants, who seemed to think
themselves quite as good as their masters, mixed with the
I company, and made their remarks upon me with the
greatest freedom. Everything about me was examined
and criticised most minutely, particularly my watch,
which they seemed to admire very much. I was frequently
requested. as a great favour, to allow them to see the
works, and to hold it to their ears, in order that they
might hear the sound which it made. The old mandarin
now led me round his house, and shewed me all the cu-
riosities which it contained, and of which he was a great,
collector. Old bronzes, carved wood, specimens of porce-
lain, and other articles of that kind, were arranged with
great taste in several of the rooms. From the house we
proceeded to the garden, but as it was winter, and the
trees leafless, I could form but little idea of the rarity or
beauty, of the plants which it contained. I took my leave,
aftei drinking some more tea, promising to visit the old
man again whenever I returned to Ning-po.—Fortune's
Three Years' Wanderings in China.
Geographical Distribution of Plants.—The geographi-
cal distribution of plants is now recognised by all men of
science, as a subject of great importance, and, though not
fully understood, is of the greatest value to the practical
horticulturist. It has enabled the cultivator to learn the
circumstances under which plants thrive best, both as to
climate, soil, and atmosphere. But we are at present
mere neophytes in this branch of science, and fall into
many errors ; for instance, a studious cultivator receives
a new plant, he also gets with it a description of the
locality in which it has been discovered, and the soil in
which it has been found growing ; he then ascertains the
temperature of the climate where his new treasure was
found. and thinks lie has all the particulars necessary to
its successful cultivation. This will often lead to disap-
pointment, for the most important circumstance is over-
looked—he should also know the kind of plants among
which it was growing, for it is not always tne case that a
a plant is found it, the soil and locality best suited to its
developement, as it often happens that these particulars
aro equally suitable to other and stronger growing plants
which will overpower every weaker individual; hence
the latter are only found in situations where ranker
vegetation will not flourish—not that they prefer such
situations, but there alonelthey have a chance of living
unmolested by their more powerful rivals. Many other

Orphan A

articles which had been stole
im. Both parties stated tha
ignorant that the articles in question were
pledged, and willingly] restored them
was severely blamed by the magistrate
it appeared, had been more completely
everything pledged with him as a donation to the chari

)len wl-

wet
but Mr. Kewl

without

y abatement.
Isaac Wright, who has long been suspected of robt
ladies in the Wavertree omnibuses, was, on Friday, cc
mitted for trial, on the charge of stealing the purse of
I old lady, in the Wavertree omnibus, on the 18th inst
John Pritchard • -