Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-02
Flowers in China.
Vick'S Magazine.
crop plant

Peonie5 are great favoritcs. The
Chinese taste for brilliant colors finds
great delight in these gorgeous flowers
which grow finely in that climate. I was
called once by Chinese friend to see d
Every handsome flower" and being led
into courtyard where were a rpmber
of vases, I saw one or two blood red
peonies. The chrysanthemum ia Japan's
national flower. On the imperial build
ings and the imperial postage stamps,
as well as the coinage of the realm, the
national flower is cons piouous. In China
though destitute of these patriotic asso-
Citations, the chrysanthemum is, never
theless, very highly priced. Early 10
the season, g single stalk is selected aud
rooted in a pot. Il is Their carefully
'suokered," only one flower or two being
allowed to grow. The soil is ka!t well
fortified, and i'll the early fall months
one can buy for few cents q vase of
them that looks like bunch of varie-
gated ostrich plumes.
I know not why. but SO it is that the
peach blossoms, SO pleasant to all Ameri-
can eyes as the first bright oolors to be
seen in quantity out of doors, and so vel
come as harbingers of spring, have fallen
into unpleasant associations in China
A very pathetic song, representing to
| the Chinese what "The Beautiful Snow
| does to an American, bewails the life of
poor, fallen girl, who ''can not see why
| heaven should have doomed her to a
peach blossom fate.' The Chinese gar
deners are quick to learn TO cater to the
fereign taste for flowers of the homeland
| There are so many flowers now grown in
perfection around Shanghai, many OF
whi3h are manifestly of foreign origin
others doubtful, and still others evidently
| indigenous, that one can scarcely find
| out which are new corners and which ma
tive to the soil. The strawberry was
rarity in China only few years ago
now the fruit may be had in great abun-
dance and at reasonable prices. Having
10 name of their own for the fruit, the
| Chinese call it "spake head fruit" "ar-
butus berry," and the like.
There is a berry or fruit of rich rec
color, in outward form almost exactly
! like sycamore ball, that Is in size and
shape a little like the strawberry. This
DR.. Joseph Edkins calls the 'arbutus'
It grows on tree, and is called yang mel
1t is beautiful sight in June to see the
soft, feathery flowers OF the miamose
growing wild along the canals. The mas
turtium is brought by the Chinese gar
deners to perfection have never seer
in this country, and geraniums do finely
Almost everything in China is ported
flower beds are not frequent. In theil
pleasure parks and tea gardens the pre-
vailing features are serpeptine walks
rustic bridges over canals of green stag
nant water, artificial mounds, rockerie.
and labyrinths, pools full of gold fish ;
foot or more in length, dwarf trees ant
climbing vines. Dampness prevails
everywhere, and spiders run riot. Thu
pavements of soft, porous brick or board
, tiles, are always cold and clammy, anC
there are never any fires to warm by.
The lotus flowers are seen everywhere
, on the streets and in full pictures. Tn
/ long, many ointed white roots are eatel
/ raw, the seeds are used in cooking, an,
{ the flower, always associated more o
less with Ruddha: or Kwan-Yin, tn