WEIGELA ROSEA. 



IN recent numbers of this Magazine we liave figured several beautiful 

 flowering plants wliich have been introduced into this country liy 

 tlie Horticultural Society from Cliina, being discovered in that country 

 by Mr. Fortune, the Society's collector. The one we figure in our 

 present Number is anotiier of the valuable plants lie transmitted to the 

 collection at the Society's garden at Cluswick. It proves to be a neat 

 Syringa-like shrub, and a very valuable acquisition, not only when 

 flourisiiing in the open air of this country, but higldy ornamental for 

 the greenhouse and conservatory, by forcing well at an early period of 

 the year, when every flower is hailed witii gratification. The par- 

 ticulars of its discovery, character, &c., Mr. Fortune details in the 

 Journal of the Horticultural Society as follows : — 



" When I first discovered this beautiful plant it was growing in a 

 mandarin's garden, in the island of Cluisan, and literally loaded witii 

 its fine rose-coloured flowers, whicii hung in graceful bunches from the 

 axils of the leaves and the ends of the branches. The garden, wliich 

 was an excellent specimen of the peculiar style so much admired by 

 the Chinese in the north, was often visited by the officers of the regi- 

 ments who were quartered at Tinghae, and was generally called the 

 Grotto, on account of the pretty rock-work with which it was orna- 

 mented. Every one saw and admired the beautiful Weigela, which was 

 also a great favourite with the old gentleman to whom the place 

 belonged. I immediately marked it as one of the finest plants of 

 Northern China, and determined to send plants of it home in every 

 ship until I should hear of its safe arrival. 



" All the gardens of the mandarins in the north of China are small, 

 and as there is only room for a few plants, these are always of the most 

 select and liandsome description. Amongst my collections are several 

 other plants which are common in these gardens, all of which are of 



Vol. XV. No. 7.— A..S'. N 



