Stuartia. 157 



be a hybrid between the aureum and the sanguineum, and 

 partakes of the good qualities of both. It is the most pro- 

 fuse bloomer in the list, the flowers appearing in hanging 

 racemes of crimson and yellow early in June. 



STUARTIA. 



THIS is a genus of beautiful shrubs or small trees, 

 containing but a few species, of which two are 

 natives of the United States, and perhaps two or 

 three of Japan and China. It was named in honor of 

 Lord Bute John Stuart who gave considerable attention 

 to shrubs and trees, and who is described by a writer in the 

 time of Linnaeus as "a most knowing botanist." None of 

 the species are entirely hardy in northern latitudes, but it is 

 proved by more recent trials that they thrive in southern 

 New England, and are as well suited to that fickle climate 

 as are many of our most common shrubs. Of their desir- 

 ability in garden cultivation there can be no dispute, and 

 Nicholson in his dictionary says they merit a place in 

 every collection of ornamental shrubs. They belong to 

 the order Ternstromiacece, and produce large camellia- 

 like flowers of six sepals and five petals, with a multitude 

 of stamens. All the species should be planted in shel- 

 tered positions, as they are unfavorably affected by high 

 winds though seldom suffering from severe cold. 



,S. pentagyna. This is a native of the Alleghany 

 Mountain region, extending from northern Virginia south- 

 ward, and it is also found on the foothills of the Big 

 Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. It is a shrub grow- 

 ing eight to twelve feet, has oval, sharply pointed foli- 



