Page 140 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

ioS CHINESE PORCELAIN.

blossoms often fail in producing fruit ; hence it is that when
'
the term ' mango flower is applied to any person, it means
that he more than he
promises performs."
Juniper and Thuja Middle vol. i. " are
(" Kingdom," 280)
often selected to their skill in them
by gardeners, try forcing
to grow into rude representations of birds and animals, the
of these curiosities to their
price being proportioned grotesque-
ness and difficulty."
"
In addition to the above, The Middle Kingdom," vol. i.
" Few trees in a more
p. 281, adds, any country present
when in full flower, than the
elegant appearance, Lagerstrcemias.
The Pride of India and Chinese tamarix are also beautiful
flowering trees. The cactus and cereus are grown in the
south ; and specimens of the latter, containing fifty or more
splendid flowers in full bloom, are not unusual at Macao in
the nights of August."

Fruits.
Pomegranate (Kiat).—" Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 283 :
"The pomegranate is chiefly cultivated for its beauty as a
and not as a fruit for the table."
flowering plant,
The is a Buddhist the fruit
pomegranate sign, being sup-
to the essence of the favourable influence
posed represent
believed to exist in the pomegranate tree, a twig of which is
sometimes used instead of willow for sprinkling water. When
are not obtainable, even the Taoists would make use of
peaches
pomegranates in their place at temple functions. The name
Idat has the same pronunciation as the word for luck, so when
and are combined, it means and
peaches pomegranates longevity
luck No.
(see — 296).
Gourd. Franks, p. 2If> : " Hu-lu, is also an emblem of
longevity, owing perhaps to its durability when dried."
" <•'
Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 284 : The dried bottle-gourd
is tied to the backs of children on board the boats, to assist
them in floating if they should unluckily fall overboard."
"
566 The or a of the
Doolittle, p. : gourd-shell, painting
gourd on wood or paper, or a small wooden gourd, or a paper
cut in like a section of the or a
shape perpendicular gourd,
paper lantern made in shape of a gourd, is in frequent use in