146 NOTES ON NEW OR HARE PLANTS. 



great beauty and interest. Azaleas, Roses, ^Moutans, Glycine sinensis 

 alba. Viburnums (more handsome than our common Gueldres rose), 

 and various other free-flowering- shrubs, make these gardens extremely 

 gay, particularly during the spring and early summer months. 



" Weigela rosea is unknown in the southern provinces of China, and 

 therefore I have every reason to suppose that it will prove hardy, or 

 nearly so, in England ; but, if not, it will make a first-rate greenhouse 

 plant, and will take its place by the side of the beautiful Azaleas and 

 Camellias of its own country. I never met with it in a wild state on 

 the Ciiinese hills, and it is therefore just possible that it may have been 

 originally introduced to Cliina from Japan ; this, however, is only con- 

 jecture. In the north of Ciiina, where the plant is found, the tiier- 

 mometer sometimes sinks witiiin a few degrees of zero, and the countrj 

 is frequently covered with snow, and yet in these circumstances it sus- 

 tains no injury. 



" As this shrub has been liberally distributed amongst the Fellows 

 of the Horticultural Society, some remarks upon its habits and culti- 

 vation will probably be acceptable. It forms a neat middle-sized bush, 

 not unlike a Philadelphus in habit, deciduous in winter, and flowers in 

 tiie months of April and May. One great recommendation to it is, tliat 

 it is a plant of the easiest cultivation. Cuttings strike readily any time 

 during the spring or summer months, with ordinary attention; and the 

 plant itself grows well in any common garden soil. It should be grown 

 in this country as it is in China, not tied up in that formal unnatural 

 way in which we frequently see plants whicii are brought to our exhi- 

 bitions, but a main stem or two chosen for leaders, which in their turn 

 tlirow out branches from their sides, and then, wiien the plant comes 

 into bloom, tiie branches, which are loaded witli beautiful flowers, liang 

 down in graceful and natural festoons. It was a plant of this kind wiiich 

 I have already noticed as growing in the grotto-garden on tiie island of 

 Chusan ; and I doubt not that plants of equal beauty will soon be pro- 

 duced in our gardens in England. 



"Tiie possessors of Weigela rosea had better give it some slight 

 protection during tiie next winter, by keeping it either in a greenhouse or 

 frame until duplicates are made, when these can be jilaiited out in the 

 open air. The main object should be to enable tlie plant to rijjen its 

 wood well, for when tiiis is done it will not only be more liardy, but it 

 will also flower better in the following season. It is, without doubt, 

 one of the finest shrubs which have been introduced to this country of 

 late years." 



[It grows freely witii us at our nurseries. The flowers are pro- 

 duced in loose clusters of from three to five, at the end of every little 

 side branch. It merits a place wherever it can be grown. — Con- 

 ductor.] 



NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



Acacia celastrifolia — Celastrus-leaved. 



Legumiiiosa:, Poli/gamia Folyandria. 



Seeds of this very beautiful species were sent from the Swan River 

 Colony by Mr. Drummond. We saw a plant of it, six feet high, 



