May 18—One of our most attractive flower ing trees ig the "Pride of India," (Melia Azedarach). This tree may be seen in many places in the country around Shanghat and it now producing its delicate lilac flowers in
ud a single specimen planted on the lawn adds Brofusion. The molle. is a pertest shade tree much tothe usefulness of the place: it is a Quick grower when it has become established although it sometimes resents being transplant. fed. We find that if the tree is moved when Small, It soon recovers and greys rapidly to a fairly' large size with an abundance of light fereen foliage on branches spreading out like an umbrella. When large specimens are tra planted, they are liable to dic or, at any rate, develop unsatisfactorily. This tres remains attractive even afler the foliage has fallen: the yellowish seeds, as large as beads and not Tike them, remain on the leafless branches all the winter. During the carly part of this year, we Kept a few trees under observations we could not guile understand why the seeds were not eaten by birds when they are supposed to bbe one of their favourite "dishes." We had seen many-farmers placing the seeds in bamboo bird traps: bul we had not seen any birds actually caught. Perhaps we were always late on the [scene despite promises of cooperation from 3 few of the people. However, there is no doubt, birds do like the seed especially if other food searce. Writing of the difficulty of moving liege' Mellas reminds us of the Camphor (Cimmamomum Camphora) which is_another tree that resents being moved when fairly large and we cannot understand why. some people still insist on purchasing large specimens. We realize that many owners of new. gardens like see large trees on their property as soon possible, but we feel that smaller Camphors are more likely to develop into large specimens earlier than older trees: of course we are lucky sometimes, but is it worth the risk? May is) [supposed to be the month for transplanting Camphers; but we have seen many carefully moved and replanted facing the same direction ay they were previously and they have seldom thrived. The Camphor is a quick grower, despite reports to the contrary, and one good young one Ie often more satisfactory than a few sider specimens. However, it is not always a good policy to throw away a tree that has died back after' transplanting: we have seen trees send {forth strong growths from the base that have alfained a height of over five fect the first year. This growth is, naturally, soft, and it may die back again during the following Winter the weather fs severe: it does not always do so and if It lives through the first winter, it is May 20—Amongst the many beautiful trees in Mrs, -Dean's garden is a fine Tulip tree (Liriodendron Tulipifera).. This tree is native to China and North America and It is not supposed to flower until It ly over twenty years of Jage. There are not many to be seen in local gardens and We doubt whether there are any equal in size the one we saw this morning: it fg'a noble specimen and it Is literally covered with "tullp.like Mowers, 'The. flowers are not Very conspicuous on the tree, but they ate very Alraclive' when seen at close quarters: the three spreading sepals are light green and the six petaly are also yrreon with orange bases, a Very attractive combination that Is seldom seen Ina flower. The numerous pistils form a column which is surrounded by. many long stamens: the leaves of the Tulip' tree are of 2 peculi shape, they appear to have been cut with a pair of scissors and cannot be mistaken for those of any ollier tree. The wood is fine grained, easily bent and used for furniture making while the inner bark is said to have medicinal properties. The Tulip tree is not the only al-fraction in the garden: there are flowers galore and a most charming herbaceous border in front of a wisteria-covered pergola, 'There are some old Camphor trees that are In flower al present; the leaves of these trees have a most pleasing fragrance. We also saw more than one Golden' Oriole flying around the garden as well fay many other birds, the place seems to be a great favourite with our fo must have been their bath morning when we were there. There were numerous birds! nests In the garden, many with young birds peeping over the sides, but we shall leave the birds for ESW. to describe: he has forgotten more about them than we ever knew.—WalK, May 20-~The fact that a Flower Show Is bbe held at the Shanghai Race Club on Saturday and Sunday caused us to turn to our books endeavour to find out where the idea of holding lower shows originated, In Boyle's ancyelopmedia, we read. that "they—were originated by' the London Horticultural Society which wag founded In 1804." At the meetings held by the society, members exhibited their produce, not with any iden of personal. gain or covering expenses; but with the abject of encouraging the cultivation and improvement fof the plants grown at that. time, At shows held in most countries, new plants, the result of yreful hybridization and. selection, are con-Unually being introduced to a public ever willing to grow something that will improve and make still more interesting the plot of and under their care, In this respect, people Europe and America are more fortunate than we are here: they are able (0 see new plants and their habit of growth: we have to Al trust! to. deveriptio appearing in catalogues. Bacon describes gardening as "the groatest refreshment to the spirit of man" and "the purest of human pleasures." It is safe to presume that the desire for closer contact with nature ig present In all of us: it may be concealed in many; but it exists and only requires an opport-Unity' to develop. 'There must be something wrong with a person who does not like to look upon' the thousands of useful and beautiful plants and flowers that nature provides for our Enjoyment and, in many cases, our sustenance. Flower Show gives us the opportunity of examining, at closer quarters, many plants that wwe often pass with just a cursory glance and many vegetables that some of us only see when cooked: we see the best from our neighbour's arden and the spirit of competition encourages Us to try to obtain facilities for growing some ourselves that may beat those we have se Many of the exhibits on view on Saturday a1 Sunday have been carefully tended for many months. To exhibit at a flower show requires months of preparatory work in many cases, and the lovely lable and other decorations. that we ook forward to seeing at our local show have all been carefully studied, ye arrangement of Mowers and the blending of colours is no vasy task-and the exhibitors deserve public support, The winners of prizes are naturally delighted with the result, but the losers are not disheartened: their love for flowers ix too great to allow them to become discouraged, defeat at. one show generally results ina victory at a later exhibition and much of the credit for the im= Provement we have seen in the quality of plants and flowers that are obtainable at local florists shops these days as compared with the produce purchasable not so very' murly years Ago, must be given to the exhibitors at our Flower Shows, who have introduced minny' plants to. this elly and brought here many new Ideas In flower de-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.