Weigelia rosea and Porsyihia viridissima. 65 



Art. V. Weigelia rosea and Forsythia viridissima, two new 

 and beaiftiful, hardy flowering Shrubs. By the Editor. 



The mission of Mr. Fortune to China, as collector for the 

 London Horticultural Society, though at one period thought 

 to have been attended with no very great success, has, how- 

 ever, proved to be one of the most successful explorations ; 

 second, perhaps, only to that of the lamented Douglas to the 

 Northwest coast. Several of the things which Mr Fortune 

 at first sent home, proved to be mere weeds, and created an 

 unfavorable impression of his botanical researches after new 

 plants. But the Weigelm rosea, the Forsythm viridissima, 

 the Z?aphne Fortun/, Jasminum nudiflorum, the White Wis- 

 taria, the new Azaleas, not to mention the Cryptomeria 

 japonica, and other fine trees and shrubs, show that time was 

 only needed to develop the beauty and the value of his 

 acquisitions. 



To our American collections his discoveries have been es- 

 pecially valuable ; for several of the plants have been already 

 proved perfectly hardy, and there is no doubt others, not yet 

 fully tried, will prove so. In particular we may mention the 

 Weigelia and Forsythia, two of the most beautiful, early 

 flowering hardy shrubs which our collections now contain. 

 We have heretofore noticed them on several occasions, and 

 they have become so well known as to be found in many 

 choice collections, though they have not been introduced 

 long enough to bloom freely ; but having flowered finely in 

 our garden, we now have the pleasure of presenting an en- 

 graving of each : — 



Weige^lia ro^sea. 



The following account of the Weigelia was communicated 

 by Mr. Fortune in the Journal of the Horticultural Society:^ — 



" When I first discovered this beautiful plant it was growing 

 in a Mandarin's garden, in the island of Chusan, and literally- 

 loaded with its fine rose-colored flowers, which hung in 

 graceful bunches from the axils of the leaves and the ends of 



VOL. XVIII. NO. II. 9 



