SMOOTH HIBISCUS. 
drawn into threads, and manufactured forpack- 
thread and ropes. The capsule, in some, is 
eatable; and others are much esteemed for 
their ornamental flowers. 
Six, out of the forty-five species of the Hi- 
biscus, are sufficiently hardy to bear the open 
air in this country. Three of these, however, 
unless the summer proves very warm, seldom 
flower in the open air of Great Britain : though, 
if planted in a sheltered situation, the roots 
will live. 
" The only way," savs Miller, " to have 
these plants flower in this country, is to keep 
the roots in pots ; and to shelter them under a 
frame in winter, and plunge them into a gen- 
tle hot-bed in the spring, which will cause 
them to put out their stalks earlv : and when 
the stalks are so high as to reach the glasses, 
the pots may be removed into a glass-case; 
where, if they are duly supplied with water, 
and have plenty of air in hot weather, they 
will flower very well in July, and in warm 
reasons will ti$m their seeds." 
Five 
