Robert Fortune
Robert Fortune
Robert Fortune was a Scottish botanist, plant hunter and traveller, best known for introducing tea plants from China to India...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth16 September 1812
acquainted plant pot several tree
I had been acquainted with this interesting tree for several years in China, but only in gardens, and as a pot plant in a dwarfed state.
chinese gardeners growing plants purpose seen selecting
I have, however, often seen Chinese gardeners selecting suckers and plants for this purpose from the other plants which are growing in their garden.
islands suggested worked
No doubt these rocky islands have suggested the idea worked out in gardens, and they have been well imitated.
best formed looked nursery taken
When these suckers had formed roots in the open ground, or kind of nursery where they were planted, they were looked over and the best taken up for potting.
These gardens may be called the gardens of the respectable working classes.
branches came regular six size stem
The tree was evidently aged, from the size of its stem. It was about six feet high, the branches came out from the stem in a regular and symmetrical manner, and it had all the appearance of a tree in miniature.
confining hundred proceed ways
This may be done by grafting, by confining the roots, withholding water, bending the branches, or in a hundred other ways which all proceed upon the same principle.
against chinese cultivate favour favourite high leave plants rather situation stand
So high do these plants stand in the favour of the Chinese gardener, that he will cultivate them extensively, even against the wishes of his employer; and, in many instances, rather leave his situation than give up the growth of his favourite flower.
common doors houses quantity stop straw
Nothing of the kind; they do all these things in their houses and sheds, with common charcoal fires, and a quantity of straw to stop up the crevices in the doors and windows.
assist chinese fine gardeners glass
It may be thought that the Chinese have glass houses, hot-water pipes, and all those fine things which assist gardeners and amateurs in Europe.
chinese fond plants seen state
This is one of the plants which the Chinese are fond of dwarfing, and it is, consequently, often seen in that state in their gardens.
firsts facts speak
We are told that the first part of the process is to select the very smallest seeds from the smallest plants, which is not at all unlikely, but I cannot speak to the fact from my own observation.
art struggle yield
Nature generally struggles against this treatment for a while, until her powers seem in a great measure exhausted, when she quietly yields to the power of the art.
eye purpose tongue
Junipers are generally chosen for the latter purpose, as they can be more readily bent into the desired form; the eyes and tongue are added afterwards, and the representation altogether is really good.