the plane tree, and the whole family of the
_Cistaceae_, which characterize the peculiar _maquis_ of the
Mediterranean region. The rhododendrons, of which only four species
are European, have their headquarters in China, numbering 130 species,
varying in size from miniature shrubs 6 in. high to tall trees.
_Lysimachia, Primula, Clematis, Rubus_ and _Gentiana_ have each a
hundred species, extraordinary variable in habit, in size and in
colour of the flowers. The ferns are equally polymorphic, numbering
400 species, and including strange genera like _Archangiopteris_ and
_Cheiropteris_, unknown elsewhere. About 40 species of bamboos have
been distinguished; the one with a square stem from Fu-kien is the
most curious.

With a great wealth of beautiful flowering shrubs and herbaceous
plants, the Chinese at an early period became skilled horticulturists.
The emperor Wu Ti established in 111 B.C. a botanic garden at
Ch'ang-an, into which rare plants were introduced from the west and
south. Many garden varieties originated in China. The chrysanthemum,
perhaps the most variable of cultivated flowers, is derived from two
wild species (small and inconspicuous plants), and is mentioned in the
ancient Chinese classics. We owe to the skill of the Chinese many
kinds of roses, lilies, camellias and peonies; and have introduced
from China some of the most ornamental plants in our gardens, as
_Wistaria, Diervilla, Kerria, Incarvillea, Deutzia, Primula sinensis,
Hemerocallis_, &c. The peach and several oranges are natives of China.
The varnish tree (_Rhus vernicifera_), from which lacquer is obtained;
the tallow tree (_Sapium sebiferum_); the white mulberry, on which
silkworms are fed; and the tea plant were all first utilized by the
Chinese. The Chinese have also numerous medicinal plants, of which
ginseng and rhubarb are best known. Nearly all our vegetables and
cereals have their counterpart in China, where there are numerous
varieties not yet introduced into Europe, though some, like the Soy
bean, are now attracting great attention. (A. HE.*)

AUTHORITIES.--L. Richard (S.J.), _Geographie de l'empire de Chine_
(Shanghai, 1905)--the first systematic account of China as a whole in
modern times. The work, enlarged, revised and translated into English
by M. Kennelly (S.J.), was reissued in 1908 as Richard's
_Comprehensive Geography of the Chinese Empire and Depend