the property. A skilful gardener was directed to give his best 
attention to them, and particularly to a fine specimen of C. reti- 
culata, which was planted out with other shrubs in the conserva- 
tory, and was said to be one of the first introduced to this country. 
It was desirable to afford the latter more space ; and, whatever 
the sacrifice might be, it was deemed expedient to remove the 
other Camellias, noble specimens in themselves, and devote the 
entire house to this individual. The consequence is that this has 
attained to very great perfection. Its height was (in 1849) 
thirteen feet, the spread of the branches was sixteen feet, and the 
circumference fifty feet! During the last ten years it has grown 
nearly ten feet. Unlike other really fine specimens of reticulata 
we have seen, the present one does not form a straggling bush, 
with leaves and flowers so sparse that the branches may every- 
where be seen; but its beautiful and ample foliage, and its still 
more beautiful, and, for a Camellia, almost gigantic flowers 
(eighteen to twenty inches in circumference !) constitute a dense 
mass of rich green and red, mingled in such equal proportions 
that it is at first sight difficult to say which predominates, the 
flowers or the leaves. Every blossom seems to be in its right 
place, and the number of these is not the least remarkable feature 
of this unrivalled plant. In the beginning of October, 1848, the 
multitude of flower-buds was so great that it was requisite for the 
health of the plant that 2600 should be removed ; and assuredly, 
though it was difficult to count them, nearly an equal amount 
(say 2000, and we are sure we speak within bounds) were 
allowed to remain: and these were in the perfection of blossom 
in April of 1849!” 
This plant, now described, like all hitherto known in Europe, 
had the few and lax petals which are peculiar to this species. In 
January of the present year I received a plant of which a solitary 
flower is here represented, from Messrs. Standish and Noble, 
Bagshot Nursery. It was sent some years ago by Mr. Fortune 
from China, as a “ double reticulata ;’ and it will be seen at once 
that the flowers, though retaining the size of the ordinary reticu- 
lata, are of a brighter colour, and the petals are twice as many, 
and of firmer texture, and disposed with much greater regularity. 
