628 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. FART III, 



as 20 It. according to other authors. It was 

 introduced into British gardens in 1758, and 

 produces its large and beautiful dark rose- 

 coloured flowers in June, often continuing in 

 flower till October. 

 Varieties, 



-*■ R. h. % nana Dec. Prod.,ii. p. 262., is a plant 

 hardly a foot high, which is a native of 

 pine woods in Carolina. 

 3* R. h. 3 rosea Pursh has the leaflets, for 

 the most part, alternate, and the branches 

 smoothish. In its native habitats, on 

 the high mountains of Virginia and Ca- 

 rolina, it grows, according to Pursh, to 

 a considerable shrub ; whereas the spe- 

 cies is a low straggling plant. (Fl. Amer. Sept., ii. p. 488.) 

 * R. h. 4 macrophulla Dec, R. grandiflora Hort., figured in our Second 

 Volume, has the leaflets large, and ovate-roundish ; and the branches 

 and peduncles glabrous, and without prickles. 

 Description, Sf-c. The species, and the different varieties, are shrubs, or low 

 trees, with tortuous and very brittle branches ; and leaves and flowers nearly 

 twice the size of those of Robinia Pseud-Acacia. They form singularly 

 ornamental shrubs for gardens ; but, as standards or bushes, they can be only 

 planted with safety in the most sheltered situations. A very good mode is, 

 to train them against an espalier rail ; and, on a lawn, this espalier may form 

 some kind of regular or symmetrical figure : for example, the ground plan of 

 of the espalier may be the letters S or X, or a cross, or a star ; which last is, 

 perhaps, the best form of all, the different radii of the star diminishing to a 

 point at the top. Such a star, in order to produce an immediate effect, 

 would require to have three plants placed close together in the centre, from 

 which the branches should be trained outwards and upwards. R. hispida 

 is often grafted about 1 ft. above the surface of the ground ; and, when 

 the plant is not trained to a wall, or to some kind of support, it is 

 almost certain, after it has grown 2 or 3 years, to be broken over at the graft. 

 A preferable mode, therefore, for dwarfs, is to graft them on the root, or 

 under the surface of the soil. In purchasing plants, this ought always to be 

 borne in mind. In consequence of the liability of this shrub to be injured by 

 the weather, it is comparatively neglected in British gardens; but, wherever a 

 magnificent display of fine flowers is an objeet, it better deserves a wall than 

 many other species ; and it is worthy of being associated there with Piptan- 

 thus nepalensis, Wistaria sinensis, and other splendid Leguminaceae. When 

 grafted standard high, and trained to a wire parasol-like frame, supported on a 

 rod, or post, 6 ft. or 8 ft. high, few plants are equal to it in point of brilliant 

 display. At White Knights, there is a wall of some length covered with 

 trellis- work, over which this species is trained; and the flowers hanging down 

 from the roof present a fine appearance; though, as in the case of the covered 

 walks of laburnum at White Knights, and at West Dean, the flowers are of 

 a much paler hue than when fully exposed to the light and air. 



Statistics. In England, in the neighbourhood of London, are various plants, from 6 ft. to 10 ft. 

 or 12 ft high ; in Sussex, at Kidbrooke, there is one 15ft. high; in Buekinghamshire, at Temple 

 House, one, 12 years planted, is 20 It. high ; in Suffolk, in the Bury Botanic Garden, 12 years planted, 

 and \'> ft. high, against a wall ; in Worcestershire, at Croome, 30 years planted, 15 ft high ; in Cum- 

 berland, at I'onsonby Hall, 12 ft. high.— In Scotland, at Danibristle Park, 1(5 ft, high; in Aberdeen- 

 ■hire. at '1 hainston, it barely exists, even against a wall ; in Argyllshire, at Hafton, 6 years planted, 

 it is 9 It high ; in Perthshire, at Kinfauns Castle, H years planted, it is 5 ft. high ; in Forfarshire, at 

 Airlev Castle, it is 12 ft high, against a wall.— In Ireland, in the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, 12 years 

 planted, it is only 4 ft. high ; but the diameter of the trunk is 4 in., and of the head 9 ft. ; in Galway, 

 at Cooie, it is 7 ft. high. 



Commercial Statistics. Plants, in the London nurseries, of the species,and 

 all tin; varieties, are \t. 6d. each, except R. h. macrophylla, which is 2s. Qd. ; 

 at Bollwyller, the species and varieties are all 1 franc 50 cents each; at 

 York, plant! of the species are 37£ cents each. 



