Page 139 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

TREES, FRUITS, FLOWERS AND PLANTS. 10;

The fairy queen bestowed its produce only upon such favoured
mortals as her imperial votaries, Muh Wang and Wu Ti. One
of the later panaceas of the Taoists was said to be composed
of the gum of the peach tree, mingled with the powdered
ash of the mulberry, which not alone cured all diseases, but
also conferred the boon of immortality."
Mayers here talks of the peach tree, but the Chinese seem
to use the fruit as "an emblem of and
generally marriage
symbol of longevity."
Palms are often met with on blue and white, famille verte,
and the other descriptions.
" "
Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 278 : Palms are not abun-
have been
dant in Southern China, although many species
noticed. The fan-leaf palm is cultivated for its leaves."
The Chinese think very highly of a retired life, free from
the turmoil of this world, and this state of existence is
gene-
indicated a under a
rally by figure sitting palm tree, a cottage
on the of a
perched top high cliff, in the recesses of a mountain,
or hidden from view by an overhanging rock. A fan made out
of a leaf is carried retired scholars and
palm generally by by
alchemists.
Plantain. — " Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 279 : " The family
of the is of
Amaryllidaa represented by many pretty species
crinum, nerine, and amaryllis, all of which are common in
gardens. Their useless beauty is compensated by the plain
but useful said to stand next to the as
plantain, sago-palm
producing the greatest amount of wholesome food, in propor-
tion to its size, of any cultivated plant. It is a 'common
summer fruit in Canton."
Tree Melon. — " Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 284: "The
fruit and leaves of the papaw are eaten, after being cooked.
This tree seldom attains its size at
greatest Canton, on
account of its slender trunk being unable to resist the strong
winds."
—
Yine. Griitzlaff, vol. i. p. 49 : "In the northern provinces
and Leaou-tung, the vine thrives, the grapes are excellent,
but the Chinese never to make wine.
attempt As raisins, they
form an article of exportation."
Mangoe. — Davis, vol. ii. p. 347 : " Mangoes ripen in the
south of China, but are small and
they inferior, and the