346 ' THE FLORIST AND 



HARDINESS OF AKEBIA QUINATA- 



When, a year ago, M. Decaisne gave the figure and description of Ahebia 

 quinata, he could scarcely have expected that this plant was about to become 

 an ad*dition to our hardy climbing plants ; but at present, since the winter 

 of 1853-4 has proved its hardiness, and the abundance of its flowers has 

 shown its merit as an ornamental plant, we do not hesitate to recommend it 

 to amateurs. In fact, if it be one of the most brilliant plants, it is no less 

 one of the most curious, as much from the shape of the leaves, as from the 

 color, the number and the disposition of its flowers. 



Two specimens planted in the open ground in the garden of the Museum, 

 one against a wall and one exposed, have not suffered in their herbaceous 

 parts. That placed against a wall towards the south-west, attained a size 

 of nearly six feet, nnd has but one stalk ; it bore fifty-two bunches of flowers, 

 united by two and threes, at the base of each bud of the preceding year ; 

 the flowers commence to bloom on the 28th of March and now on the 12th 

 of April, there are yet a great number of buds. The plant exposed in the 

 open air is nearly as high, it has three principal stalks, which altogether 

 have not less than seventy clusters of flowers. These last commence to 

 open on the 9th of April. But if the sheltered situation has been favorable 

 to the former with regard to its forwardness, it has not been the same to 

 those flowers entirely exposed to the sun. These flowers have been less 

 colored and have passed very quickly from the violet color to a deeper shade. 



We should add that the Ahebia quinata joins to the above merit that of 

 vigorous growth, and that its numerous shoots can attain in a single year, 

 from 5 to 1 feet, or even greater length. 



The exposure which we suppose to be the most favorable for this plant, is 

 a partly shaded one, or along a wall exposed to the East. The soil we 

 found most suitable for it is a very sandy peat, or mixed with sand. Its 

 multiplication is rather difficult, it is best done by means of cutttings of 

 the half ripened wood, cut from a plant kept in the greenhouse. 



Carriere, in Mevne horticole. 



As we are drawing to the close of the year, we would urge upon our de- 

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 appealed to them again and again, and in too many cases, vainly. We 

 have been giving them our time and our means, and have received no re- 

 turn. There are a few, even, who owe us for the preceding volume. With 

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