Plate 457. 



ASTILBE THUNBERGII. 



The marvellous flora of Japan includes such a variety of beautiful plants of every 

 description that there is scarcely a department of horticulture that has not been enriched 

 with many of its choicest subjects from that rich and apparently inexhaustible source. 



An instance of this is seen in our illustration, which is that of a hardy herbaceous 

 plant recently introduced by Messrs. James Veitch and Son, of the Royal Exotic 

 Nurseries, Chelsea. Astilbe Thunbergii is a robust plant of Spirea-like aspect, with a 

 bold but graceful bi-pinnate foliage, admirable for contrast with the smaller-leaved plants, 

 among which it will form a distinguished ornament. 



The flower-stems rise well above the foliage, and in the young plants are fully two 

 feet high — a height that will probably be exceeded in specimens established in good soil. 



A First-class Certificate of Merit was awarded to this plant by the Royal Horticultural 

 Society on May 24th, and a Certificate of Merit by the Royal Botanic Society at their 

 first Summer Show on May 25th. 



Plate 458. 

 ABUTILON REINE D'OR. 



How and when this variety originated we are unable to say, but we think it was 

 distributed by Mr. William Bull, of the Exotic Nurseries, King's Road, Chelsea, a short 

 time ago, and it is decidedly the very best of the yellow-flowered varieties we have yet 

 seen ; the flowers are large, well-formed, and of a rich golden colour, while the habit of 

 growth is all that can be desired. 



We are only beginning to realize the value of the large group of Abutilons for 

 autumn and winter flowering. In a warm greenhouse, with due attention, these valuable 

 plants will bloom profusely, and supply large quantities of cut flowers at the dead season 

 of the year. One of the most valuable of the winter-flowering varieties is that now 

 figured ; and it is specially for this characteristic that we have given it a place in the 

 present number. During last winter it was a conspicuous feature in the large collection 

 grown by Mr. A. F. Barron, at the Chiswick Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 by whom it is strongly recommended. 



