1874] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
421 
The Rose-Mallows—Hibiscus. 
In another article we have mentioned some 
of the Abutilons ; another ornamented genus 
of the Mallow Family, is Hibiscus, of which a 
hardy shrubby species {H. Syriacus) is well 
6 or 8 inches across. Our plants produced 
flowers scarcely more than half that size, which 
is probably in part due to the severe drouth, 
and in part to the fact that the plant does not 
bloom until late, and the cool nights check its 
development. By the time it is well in flower, 
upwards, or it may be pruned to a clean trunk, 
with a tree-like head at any desirable hight. 
This tree-form is very effective when planted 
out on the lawn in summer, and it is well 
adapted for the window, as its head can be 
quite above the lower ffiowrug plants. Another 
SCARLET ROSE-MALLOW. ABUTILON—BOULE DE NIEGE. 
known as the Rose of Sharon, and a tender 
shrubby one is the Rose of China, (H. Rosa- 
Sinensis) of the greenhouses. Most of the 
species are herbaceous, known as Rose-Mal¬ 
lows, and a number of showy ones are natives 
of this country. Late in summer the brackish 
marshes along our rivers, are gay with the 
large pink hollyhock-shaped flowers of the 
Swamp Rose-Mallow, {H. Moscheutos ) a species 
which does well in gardens, and is worthy 
of a place there. Farther South and West, 
there are several other species, all showy 
and desirable in large gardens; one of these 
(H. grandiflorus ) has rose-colored flowers with 
a deep red center, which are sometimes a 
foot across. The most brilliant of all is the 
Scarlet Rose-Mallow, (H. coccineus ), a strictly 
Southern species, which is found in marshes 
from the Carolina's, southward and west¬ 
ward. We had long known this plant 
from herbarium specimens, and were glad to 
receive this spring some roots from Dr. Lun- 
gren of Florida, which enabled us to see it 
growing. In its native localities this forms 
stems 4 to 8 feet high, but ours only reached 
about the lesser hight, it is very smooth 
throughout, and has large long-petioled leaves, 
which are parted quite to the base in five 
divisions; the flowers, which are abundantly 
produced from the axils of the upper leaves, 
are bright scarlet, and when growing wild are 
it will no doubt be cut down by the frost, but it 
is such a showy plant that it is worth growing, 
even if it can be enjoyed for but a short time. 
We doubt if the roots will endure the winter, but 
shall try some and take the others to the cellar. 
— i ——»—- 
Abutilons—Boule de Niege. 
Among the many ornamental plants afforded 
by the Mallow Family, the Abutilons take a 
high rank. One of these, Abutilon striatum, 
has been a long while in cultivation; and is now 
quite common under the rather absurd name 
of “ Flowering Maple,” no doubt so called 
from the resemblance of the leaves in shape to 
those of the maples. This is one of those 
plants that satisfy the most exacting grower, 
as it will bloom all the year round; it is easily 
managed as a window plant, and when set out 
in the garden in summer, it proves attractive 
there. The principal objection to it as a win¬ 
dow plant, is its tendency to grow out of 
bounds, and as many cultivators are too fond 
of their plants to use the knife to them, we 
often see this grown out of all proper shape. 
No plant more needs judicious pruning, and 
none repays it better that this; it is so very 
tractable that it may be made to assume any 
desired form, and may be grown as a pyramid, 
well furnished with branches from the base 
reason for its popularity is the ease with which 
it is propagated, cuttings of the half hardened 
stems taking root readily. The fine clean hand¬ 
somely shaped leaves of this Abutilon, together 
with its gracefully pendulous, bell-shaped, curi¬ 
ously veined flowers, make it a very desirable 
plant. A variety with the leaves handsomely 
blotched with golden yellow, is one of the few 
variegated plants that are satisfactory at all 
times. This, which is called Abutilon Thornp- 
soni, is equally manageable with the plain form, 
and whether grown in-doors with partial shade, 
or out in full sun, its markings are clear 
and brilliant; this form does not flower so 
freely as the plain. Another species, A. 
venosum, has larger and darker flowers than 
A. striatum , but is not so well calculated for 
window culture. Between these two there are 
several hybrids with florist’s names. These 
plants are very useful in greenhouses and con¬ 
servatories, for training up to pillars or against 
walls, they bear pruning so readily, that they 
may be made to adapt themselves to either 
place. Last spring we received from Mr. John 
Saul, of Washington, D. C., a quite new 
Abutilon, under the name of Boule de Niege, or 
“snow-ball,” which, as its name would imply, 
originated in France, and the shape of its leaves, 
as shown in the engraving, indicate that it is 
from a species quite unlike those just referred 
to. The flowers are pure white, and of good 
