Plate 61 . 
HIBISCUS (ROSA-SINENSIS) FULGIDUS. 
We have already figured some remarkable varieties of these handsome stove shrubs, 
which have lately been introduced by Mr. William Bull, of King’s Road, Chelsea, and we 
now add another, which is worthy of a place alongside of those previously given. 
Mr. Bull thus describes this handsome Hibiscus ; — “ This magnificent variety, which 
was obtained from the South Sea Islands, is remarkable alike for the size, colour, and 
marking of its brilliant flowers. The leaves are broadly ovate, with coarsely serrated mar- 
gins. The flowers are of a very large size (five inches in diameter), composed of fine broad 
rounded and beautifully undulated petals of an intense crimson scarlet, paler and somewhat 
rose-tinted towards the base, where on each petal is an oblong blotch of deep crimson, 
forming a blunt-rayed star in the centre of the flower. It is one of the finest varieties yet 
introduced.” Besides this fine variety, Mr. Bull has two other species which are being 
sent out this spring along with Hibiscus fulgidus — one, Hibiscus r. s. cruentus, is described as 
having flowers close and double, of a remarkably rich crimson red, and the contour of the 
individual flowers finely modelled ; the other. Hibiscus r. s. puniceus, is described as having 
double flowers remarkably neat and compact, of a remarkably bright dense crimson colour 
and about three inches across, and the wavy petalline bodies which form the close centi’e 
are about two inches in depth, and have a very elegantly crisped appearance. 
By those who have space at their disposal these elegant and brilliant stove plants will 
be highly prized, both for the freshness of their foliage and the brilliancy of their flowers. 
Plate 62 . 
BEDDING VIOLAS AND PANSIES. 
We gave in our last volume a group of the bedding Violas and Pansies raised by 
Messrs. Hickson and Co., of Waterloo Place, Edinburgh ; and we now complete our series 
by the addition of another group, of which the raisers say, for several years these have been 
tested in the open ground, and from April to October they have continued to bloom with 
the greatest profusion, unaffected either by the severe frosts and cutting winds of spring, or 
the scorching weather in summer. They have continued to grow and bloom freely when 
V. cornuta and Pansies were killed close beside them by the drought. From their dwarf 
dense branching habit, their hardy constitution, and their invaluable property of con- 
tinuous flowering from Spring to Autumn, they are sure to take a prominent place amongst 
bedding-out plants, whilst the delicate softness and variety of their colours will form a 
pleasing contrast to some of their more gaudy companions. 
Of the six now figured, three are bedding Pansies and three Violas. Regina (Fig. 1), 
is a white bedding Pansy, of good substance, with orange eye, and dark purple blotch. Claret 
(Fig. 3), ground colour distinctly shaded with claret, small orange eye, and flowers of great 
substance. Scotia (Fig. 6), is of a clear azure blue, with distinct yellow eye. The bedding 
Violas are — Torg (Fig. 2), deep plum with dark blotch, flowers of great substance, distinct 
colour, and good grower. Snowjlake (Fig. 4), clear waxy white, slightly pencilled, the 
flowers are very thick and leathery, and the plant is a j)rofuse bloomer ; and Favourite 
(Fig. 5), bluish purple, of good substance, golden eye, surrounded by a dark disk, of dwarf 
and compact habit. They are all evidently sturdy in growth, and will, we are convinced, 
become general favourites with those who cultivate these flowers. 
