412 breck's new book of ploavees. 



D. rosea. — Wiegela rosea. — Rose-colored Wiegela. — 

 Tliis shrub was first introduced from Japan as a new ge- 

 nus, to which the name of Wiegela was given. Botanists 

 have since placed it in the old genus Diervilla, but the 

 name Wiegela has become so well established that it will 

 serve for the common name of the shrub, it being the only- 

 one that it has. " When I first discovered this beautiful 

 plant," says Mr. Fortune, the gentleman to whom we are 

 indebted for its introduction, " it was growing in a Man- 

 darin's garden, on 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 the branches. Everyone saw and admired tlie beauti- 

 ful Wiegela. I immediately marked it as one of the fin- 

 est plants in Northern China, and determined to send 

 plants of it home in every ship, until I should hear of its 

 safe arrival. It forms a neat bush, not unlike a Syringa 

 in habit, deciduous in winter, and flowering in the months 

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

 that it is a plant of the easiest cultivation. Cuttings 

 strike readily, any time during the winter and spring 

 months, with ordinary attention, and the plant itself 

 grows well in any ordinary soil. It should be grown in 

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

 imnatural way in which we see plants brought to our ex- 

 hibitions; but a main stem or two chosen for leaders, 

 which, in their turn, throw out branches from their sides, 

 and then, when the plant comes into bloom, the branches, 

 which are loaded with beautiful flowers, hang down in 

 graceful and natural festoons." Several fine varieties are 

 now in cultivation. The variety amabilis^ formerly con- 

 sidered a species, and called Wiegela amahalis^ has a 

 more drooping habit, ratlier larger leaves and somewhat 

 smaller and deeper colored flowers. The variety Isoline 

 has white flowers. Deshoisii^ has very dark flowers, and 



