A BEAUTIFUL LONDON SHRUB 219 



It is pretty well accepted now that none of its 

 chrysalides survive a British winter, and that the 

 autumn broods are the offspring of parents drifted 

 hither from the Continent by the east winds of 

 spring. 



LXIX 



Any tree or shrub that will flower freely in 



London deserves to be mentioned with 



A Beautiful 



honour. At the present time (September London 



Shrub 

 1895) there has been for some weeks a 



fine plant of the shrubby Hibiscus (Althcea frutex or 

 Hibiscus Syriacus) in great beauty in one of the front 

 gardens of Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. It is about six 

 feet high, and its sprays are loaded with lovely 

 white blossoms, each as large as a Shirley poppy, 

 with a blotch of deep maroon at the base of each 

 petal. Its beauty is enhanced by contrast with the 

 dark buildings around, and says as plain as print to 

 passers-by, ' Householders please copy.' Unluckily, 

 most householders, in the west end at least, have 

 fled from London by this time. 



