CULTIVATION OF THE PAULOWNIA IMPEIUALIS. 227 



XXI. — Cultivation of tlie PauloiLmia itnperialis. By Charles 

 Dorrien, Esq., F.li.S. 



As this handsome tree so rarely flowers in England, though it 

 grows vigorously, it may be interesting to some of the Society 

 to learn the circumstances under which it has produced blossoms 

 here, in perhaps rather a favourable situation on the south coast, 

 and not more than 50 or 60 feet above the level of the sea. The 

 plant I possess is now nearly 14 feet high, and the circum- 

 ference of the stem, at a foot from the ground, is 14 inches. For 

 several years it continued growing luxuriantly, making long 

 shoots every summer, which only partially ripened their wood. 

 It was planted in a large slate-box, and plunged in tlie gromid, 

 which was turfed over ; the year before last it was removed, and 

 in the operation it was foinid to have sent down several roots 

 more than an inch thick, through the drainage holes into the 

 soil beneath, which were necessarily cut off; and it was re- 

 planted in the same box in front of the iiouse, in an aspect 

 nearly due south, and sheltered from wind. In 1851 it did not 

 grow so luxuriantly, and the summer having been unusually hot 

 and dry, in fact, there had been no rain for more than two 

 months, the leaves began to look yellow in September, when the 

 shoots of the year began to show blossom-buds in the axils of 

 the leaves, forming a terminal spike of six or eight to each 

 branch. My anticipations of bloom were, however, partially 

 disappointed, as in the course of the winter and spring the buds 

 fell off one by one after sudden changes of weather, till at last 

 only three were left. Those remaining opened in May, and 

 much resembled a Gloxinia in form and colour, with the additional 

 merit of being delightfully sweet scented, something like violets, 

 remaining four or five days in perfection. The tree is again 

 (Sept. 13) forming its flower buds, and therefore as the habit of 

 flowering is induced, it may continue to do so. 



Being a native of Japan, it must require considerable sun-heat 

 in summer, and it is probably the dampness of our climate which 

 prevents it from flowering, by causing it to produce long succu- 

 lent shoots and leaves instead, particularly when planted in deep 

 rich soil. Mine is in light loam, well drained. It seems not to 

 suffer from frost ; but the frequent and sudden changes of the 

 weather in this part of England (where a frost of a few days is 

 often succeeded by a temperature of 40°, with heavy rains, and 

 afterwards a return of frost) cause the buds to drop off, as those 

 of Camellias do under the same circumstances. 1 think it 

 will be worth while to protect the flower buds by some light 

 covering, such as a cornet of oiled paper, during winter. 



It may be clearly inferred, that the system required to pro- 

 it 2 



