36 Addisonia 



It is this diflference in flowering period which constitutes its chief 

 value in horticulture, for botanically the differences separating the 

 two species, while valid, are not marked, the most conspicuous 

 being the purple color of the inside of the calyx in Hamamelis 

 japonica, which serves to intensify the yellow of the petals. In 

 blossom both are equally conspicuous, for the Japanese plant bears 

 its flowers before the leaves appear, while our plant takes on its 

 mantle of gold after the leaves have fallen. 



About 1862 the Japanese witch hazel was introduced into cultiva- 

 tion by von Siebold, according to a statement made by Masters in 

 the Gardners' Chronicle early in 1874. It was apparently first 

 offered for sale in a trade catalogue issued by Messrs. Ottolander, 

 of Boskoop, Holland, as Hamamelis arborea, under which name 

 it was described by Masters. It appears to be somewhat variable 

 as to habit and color of flowers, and the form of more vigorous 

 growth and larger flowers with a purple calyx represents what is 

 now called H. japonica arborea Rehder, the Hamamelis arborea of 

 Masters. The plant from which the illustration was prepared was 

 secured at the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1901, and has been in the 

 collections of the New York Botanical Garden since that time. 



The genus Hamamelis contains four species, equally divided 

 between Asia and America. In addition to the common species of 

 the United States, Hamamelis virginiana, another, H. vernalis, is 

 known from the south central United States; the latter blossoms 

 in the spring. One Asiatic species is here illustrated, the other, 

 Hamamelis mollis, is from Central China. They thrive best in a 

 somewhat moist soil, the Japanese species, however, doing well in a 

 drier situation than the others, while H. virginiana flourishes not 

 only in shady places, its preference in the wild, but also in sunny 

 positions. They may be propagated from seeds, which do not 

 germinate until the second year, or by layering; they may also be 

 grafted in the spring, in the green-house, on seedlings of Hamamelis 

 virginiana. 



George V. Nash. 



Explanation OF Plate. Fig. 1. — Flowering branch. Fig. 2. — Flower, X 3. 

 Fig. 3. — Fruit. Fig. 4. — I^eaf. 



