(1850)  Page(s) 161-162, Pl. 31.  Includes photo(s).
 
THE DEEP BLOOD-COLOURED MOUTAN.
(MOUTAN OFFICINALIS; ATROSANGUINEA.)
A Hardy Undershrub, from China, belonging to the Natural Order of Crowfoots.
Paeonia Moutan, atrosanguinea : Journal of the Horticultural Society, vol. iv., p. 225.
It will probably be admitted, without any difference of opinion, that this is the finest of the Moutans introduced by the Horticultural Society. It is a plant with a vigorous growth, a deep green foliage tinged with red, and very large, very double flowers, with dark blood-coloured petals, which are nearly as broad in the centre as at the edge. In foliage it is much like the common Moutan papyracea.
And now a word respecting the genus Moutan, which we propose to separate from Paeonia. We need not say that all the Moutans are furnished with a tough leathery coat which is drawn tightly round the carpels, of which it allows nothing but the stigmas to project. This organ has no existence in Paeonia, or in that part of it which one of us formerly proposed to call Onaepia, containing P. Brownii and another. It is of somewhat uncertain nature; wherefore it has received from different persons the names of Disk, Nectary, Perigynium, Paracorolla, &c. Upon this organ the genus Moutan is founded; and thus it differs from Paeonia as much as Ranunculus from Adonis, Actaea from Thalictrum, Trollius from Helleborus, all genera of the same order, that is to say, because of the presence of a part which does not appear in others.
Of the nature of this part there is little room for doubt. It is in all probability an innermost row of abortive stamens, the filaments of which are united into a cup, while the anthers refuse to appear; and therefore it is referable to that part of the flower winch botanists now call disk. D. Don said he found anthers upon its edge, and if he was not mistaken that would be conclusive as to its nature; but we have never been able to find anthers upon it, nor does it appear that anyone except Mr. Don ever did.
In one of his interesting letters, Mr. Fortune gives the following account of the manner in which the Chinese propagate Moutans :—
"The propagation and management of the Moutan seem to be perfectly understood by the Chinese at Shanghae, much better than they are in England.
"In the beginning of October, large quantities of the roots of a herbaceous Paeony (* A variety with small single flowers) are seen heaped up in sheds and other outhousts, and are intended to be used as stocks for the Moutan. The bundle of tubers which forms the root of a herbaceous Paeony is pidled to pieces, and each of the finger-like rootlets forms a stock upon which the Moutan is destined to be grafted. Having thrown a large number of these rootlets upon the potting bench, the scions are then brought from the plants which it is desirable to increase. Each scion used is not more than au inch and a half or two inches in length, and is the point of a shoot formed during the bygone summer. Its base is cut in the form of a wedge, and inserted in the crown of the finger-like tuber just noticed. This is tied up or clayed round in the usual way, and the operation is completed. When a large number of plants has been prepared in this manner they are taken to the nursery, where they are planted in rows about a foot and a half apart, and the same distance between the rows. In planting, the bud or point of the scion is the oidy part which is left above ground; the point between the stock and the scion, where the union is destined to take place, is always buried beneath the surface. Kaempfer states that the Chinese propagate the Moutan by budding; but this must have been a mistake, as budding is never practised in the country, and is not understood. He was probably deceived by the small portion of scion which is employed, and which generally has only a single bud at its apex.
"Many thousands of plants are grafted in this manner every autumn, and the few vacant spaces which one sees in the rows, attest the success winch attends the system; indeed it is rare that a graft fails to grow. In about a fortnight the union between the root and the scion is complete, and in the following spring the plants are well-established and strong. They frequently bloom the first spring, and are rarely later than the second, when they are dug up and taken to the markets for sale in the manner I have described. When each has only one stem and one flower-bud, it is of more value in the eyes of the Shanghae nurserymen than when it becomes larger. In this state it is more saleable;' it produces a very large flower, and it is easily dug up and carried to the market. I could always buy large plants at a cheaper rate than small ones, owing to these circumstances.
"In the gardens of the Mandarins it is not unusual to meet with the tree Paeony of great size. There was one plant near Shanghae which produced between three and four hundred blooms every year. The proprietor of it was as careful of it as the Tulip fancier is of his bed of Tulips. When in bloom it was carefully shaded from the bright rays of the sun by a canvas awning, and a seat was placed in front, on which the visitor could sit down and enjoy the sight of its gorgeous flowers."

(1853)  Page(s) 67.  Includes photo(s).
 
331. Clematis graveolens. Lindley.  A hardy climber from the north of India.  Leaves pale green, deciduous.  Flowers greenish yellow, heavy-scented.  Flowers in the middle of summer.
This pretty little plant was raised in the garden of the Horticultural Society, from seeds collected by Captain William Munro, in Chinese Tartary, and the Snowy Passes, at an elevation of 12,000 feet.  In cultivation it proves to be a small slender climbing species, perfectly destitute of heiriness, except on the calyx and fruit.  The leaves have very small ovate, three-lobed, leaflets, and long straggling footstalks.  The flowers are solitary, at or near the extremity of the branches, pale yellow, rather pretty, but emitting a heavy smell, which, in a greenhouse, is more disagreeable than pleasant, but is not observed in the open air.  It proves to be perfectly hardy in the severest winters; grows freely in any good loamy soil, and is easily increased by cuttings.  The seed was sown in the garden of the Horticultural Society on the 17th of May, 1845; and the plant was in flower by the end of July, 1846.  See Journ. of Hort. Soc., vol.i., p.307.
 

(Oct 1852)  Page(s) 107-8, Vol.3, tab. 94.  Includes photo(s).
 
THE WOOLLY CLEMATIS. (Clematis Lanuginosa)
A very fine large-flowered Hardy Climber, from CHINA, belonging to the Order of CROWFOOTS.
Specific Character.
THE WOOLLY CLEMATIS. Leaves simple and ternate; leaflets coriaceous, cordate, acuminate, shaggy on the underside as are the footstalks. Buds, peduncles, and young leaves buried in wool. Sepals six, ovate, acuminate, spreading flat.
CLEMATIS LANUGINOSA (Viticellæ); foliis simplicibus tematisque, foliolis coriaceis cordatis acuminatis subtus petiolisque villosis, alabastrls pedunculis foliisque junioribus lanatis, sepalis 6 ovatis acuminatis patentissimis.
This magnificent plant flowered last spring in the nursery of Messrs. Standish and Noble of Bagshot, who received it from Mr. Fortune. We have a wild specimen from that enterprising travller, marked "Hills of Chekiang, July, 1850." and he has also favoured us with the following memorandum concerning it:
"This pretty species was discovered at a place called Tein-tung, near the city of Ningpo. It is there wild on the hill sides, and generally plants itself in light stony soil near the roots of dwarf shrubs whose stems furnish it with support as it grows. Before the flowering season arrives it has reached the top of the brushwood, and its fine star-shaped azure blossoms are then seen from a considerable distance rearing themselves proudly above the shrubs to which it had clung for support during its growth. In this state it is most attractive, and well repays any one who is bold enough to scramble through the brushwood to get a nearer view.
"The flowers of this species are much larger and more hairy than those of the Japanese C. azurea grandiflora, to which it bears some resemblance. It is no doubt equally hardy, and perhaps more so. As a neat pot-climber for the greenliouse it will be much prized. The situations and soil in which it is found wild will point out the true mode of managing it in our gardens."
It is no doubt very near C. azurea, from which it differs in the leaves being coriaceous not thin, shaggy beneath with white hairs not finely silky, and cordate not ovate; in the flower-buds, young leaves, and peduncles being buried in wool, not subpubescent, and in the great size of the flowers, whose divisions are broader and more acute.
There seems no reason to doubt that it is quite hardy; and if so it will prove one of the finest, if not the finest, climber our gardens yet possess.

(1852)  Page(s) 157-158.  
 
Rosa Fortuniana. Lindley Fortune's Double Yellow, or Wang-jang-ve Rose. ...Of the pedigree of the Rose here figured we know nothing, save that it comes from China; and, as Dr. Lindley has observed, it is fruitless to inquire....Mr. Fortune tells us, "the rose you inquire about is well known to me, and was discovered in the garden of a rich Mandarin at Ningpo. It completely covered an old wall in the garden, and was in full bloom at the time of my visit: masses of glowing yellowish and salmon-coloured flowers hung down in the greatest profusion, and produced a most striking effect. It is called by the Chinese the Wang-jang-ve, or yellow rose. They vary, however, a good deal in colour; a circumstance which, in my opinion, adds not a little to the beauty and character of the plant. I fancy it is quite distinct from any other known variety, and certainly different from any China kind. It is admirably adapted for covbering walls; and if planted in rich soil, and allowed to grow to its full size, nothing can produce a finer effect in our gardens. It was sent home to the Horticultural Society in 1845, and noticed by me in the Journal of the Society, vol. i p. 218, and again in my Journey to the Tea Countries, p. 318. No doubt the Wang-jang-ve, now that it has been properly treated by Messrs. Standish and Noble, will soon take its place as a favourite among our climbing roses`." Bot. Mag. t. 4679.

(1850)  Page(s) 173-74.  
 
Fortune's Double Yellow Rose. A deciduous half-hardy scrambling plant, with buff semi-double flowers. Found cultivated in China. Introduced by the Horticultural Society. This is a straggling plant, with the habit of R. arvensis, but with handsomer though deciduous leaves. The branches are dull green, strongly defended by numerous short hooked prickles, without setae. The leaves are smooth, in about three pairs, bright shining green above, rather glaucous beneath. The flowers are as large as those of the Common China Rose, semi-double, solitary, dull buff, tingled with purple. The petals are loose, and the whole aspect of the flower that of a domesticated wilding...In its present state this variety has little claim to English notice: but it may be a good breeder, and would certainly be much handsomer in a warmer climate than ours. Mr. Fortune continues to speak highly of its beauty in China, where it is said to be loaded with buff blossoms; in England, however, its wood is easily killed by frost, and it cannot be regarded as being hardier than a Tea Rose.

(1883)  Page(s) 97.  Includes photo(s).
 
Rosa Fortuniana. A scrambling evergreen hardy shrub, with large solitary flowers, and ternate or quinate leaves. Native of China. Introduced by the Horticultural Society...Among the roses introduced by Mr. Fortune, for the Horticultural Society, is one which does not appear referrable to any known species. It is a scrambling shrub, with slender branches, sparingly armed with small falcate prickles. The leaflets...thin, bright green, shining on both sides, and usually in threes, sometimes in fives. The stipules are small...as in the Banksian roses. The flowers grow singly on short setose peduncles....and are double white, with their petals loosely and irregularly arranged in a mass about three inches in diameter. That is is not a Banksian rose is proved by its solitary flowers and prickly stems; that it is no variety of R. sinica is shown by its weaker habit and the total absence of spines from its calyx-tube. Can it be a mule between the two?