74 
ABELIA FLORIBUND A. 
constitution, so much so as to render it manageable with only 
inferior accommodation, and under circumstances that would 
probably prove fatal to many others, which still are ranked as 
greenhouse plants; in fact it appears to be quite possible that- 
it may he found hardy, though, from its great beauty, it would 
be an extravagant act to transfer it to the open ground, the 
advantage, however, of such a character, in a cultural view, 
cannot fail to be apparent, and will offer another inducement to 
its extensive adoption. 
Our figure was taken from the plant mentioned at the beginning 
of this paper, and we are also indebted to the obliging attention 
of Mr. Robert T. Pince for the following particulars relative to 
its history and cultivation. “We received the original plant 
from the nursery of M. Galleotti, of Brussels, who had imported 
it from some part of South America; it is a hardy greenhouse 
plant, and thrives well in a compost of rich loam and sandy peat, 
in equal quantities; it should be placed on the front shelf of the 
greenhouse, where there is plenty of light and air. I think it 
will prove a very great acquisition to our collections, as it flowers 
so abundantly and is easily cultivated.” 
Before we leave this subject it may not be out of place to 
remark, that productions of this nature, though they are termed 
hardy, and, on the whole, require much less care or management 
than the ordinary description of plants of the same class, yet it 
must not be supposed they can be neglected with impunity, or 
that the principles which guide the operations in the culture of 
the more tender forms may here be departed from, without en¬ 
dangering the existence of the individual. What is meant in 
this case by the term hardy, is simply that the plant, being a 
native of elevated districts, and therefore naturally capacitated to 
endure a low temperature, does not require the application of 
artificial heat to preserve it in health, or at least in much less 
degree than others that may be derived from the lower slopes or 
table land of even the same country. Not being acquainted with 
its exact habitat we are of course unable to speak as to the 
positive extent this may be carried, but the experience already 
had with it leads to the conclusion that, if it will not bear actual 
frost, a temperature but a very few degrees above that point is 
by no means prejudicial, and being in all probability a native of 
