NOVEMBER. 



153 



DEUTZIA CRENATA ELORE PLENO. 



WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 



Some thirty years ago our gardens were enriched by the introduction of a 

 dwarf Japanese shrub, which in spring time, when laden with its cymose 

 panicles of starry snow-white blossoms, was found to be one of the prettiest 

 of our shrubbery ornaments. This was the Deutzia scabra of botanists — a plant 

 which, besides the interest it afforded in the garden, also furnished occupation 

 of a highly pleasing character in the study, the stellate silicious hairs with 

 which its surface was covered being found to form one of the most beautiful of 

 microscopic objects when seen through the medium of polarised light. 



Since then our gardens have been enriched by other species now familiar 

 amongst us, of which the more important are D. corymbosa and D. staminea, 

 both ornamental as out-door shrubs, and D. gracilis, a charming object as an 

 in-door forcing plant ; the latter, which does not generally perfect its flowers 

 in the open air, is indeed one of the most beautiful of all dwarf shrubs for early 

 forcing. The stellate hairs of D. staminea too, as we can testify from our own 

 experience, are very much superior to those of the original D. scabra as 

 microscopic objects. 



With such antecedents as these it was not surprising when it became known 

 that Mr. Fortune had introduced from Japan an ornamental Deutzia with 

 double flowers, that expectation should have been strained to its highest pitch 

 And when in the course of the past summer Mr. Standish succeeded in presenting 

 the new introduction in flower at the metropolitan fetes, it was seen at once 

 that expectation was not in this instance doomed to disappointment, but that 

 a sterling addition to our dwarf hardy shrubs had been secured. 



It is this plant, thus ushered into notice, Deutzia crenata elore pleno, 

 which we have now the pleasure of figuring ; and of which our figure by Fitch 

 will, we trust, convey a iair idea, notwithstanding that the beauty of a plant 

 with pale-coloured blossoms, and whose effect depends in some measure upon 

 the presence of an example of at least moderate size, and well furnished with 

 flowers, is very inadequately realised by the representation of a small sprig 

 upon white paper. We can at least assure those of our readers who have not 

 seen the plant, that it is fully equal in beauty to any of its congeners, and 

 quite distinct from them all. It forms a dwarf shrub, with opposite, shortly 

 stalked, ovate, acute, finely crenulated leaves, and racemes of drooping flowers, 

 which are white punctately tinged on the outer surface with deep rose ; they 

 are furnished with several petals instead of the normal number — five, and 

 hence form what are called double blossoms. 



^ Deutzia^ is nearly related botanically to PhitadeJpJms, being distinguished 

 chiefly by its definite stamens, its tricuspidate filaments, and its free° styles. 

 Concerning the species Dr. Siebold observes that some succeed only on plains 

 but little elevated above the sea level — e. g., D. scabra and crenata, while 

 others prefer the deep humid valleys of lofty mountains— e. g., D. gracilis, 

 Brunoniana, corymbosa, and staminea. The most common species in Japan is, 

 according to the same authority, D. scabra, which grows along hedges, on 

 gentle slopes, and on rocks; seldom at a greater height above the sea than 

 1200 feet, where it is associated with Euonymus, Viburnum, Eurya, Ligustrum, 

 Vitis, Cissus, &c. Towards the end of the year the leaves of this species are 

 collected for the use of cabinet-makers, who employ it as a polishing material 

 in place of the Dutch Rushes of Europe. Hedges are also formed of this shrub, 

 and it is cultivated in gardens, especially a variety with double flowers, which 

 is agreeably intermingled with the different species of Hydrangea, Aralia 



