THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



81 



for when the acuminated points of 

 the petals come to be considered, 

 although of more importance than 

 the same disposition in the leaves, 

 yet they are analogous in the two 

 organs ; and the petals being merely 

 modifications of leaves, the character 

 observed with one may frequently be 

 found with the other. It is very pos- 

 sible that the Aucuba in question may 

 be found along the north and east of 

 Central Asia, on the high chain of 

 humid and snowy mountains on the 

 west of China ; and it is also probable 

 that between the countries where 

 the two species are found, there may 

 exist specimens which unite the cha- 

 racters of both of them, and will 

 demonstrate that they are merely 

 varieties of one species. 



The leaves of A. Himalaica are of 

 a beautiful dark green colour, and 

 the berries a rich coral red, changing 

 to white at the crown. It forms one 

 of the most striking examples of the 

 botanical affinity which exists be- 

 tween the flora of the temperate parts 

 of the Himalaya and that of China 

 and Japan — an affinity which is not 

 partaken by the flora of Europe. It 

 would be easy to cite many examples 

 —such, for instance, as Enkianthus, 

 Skinneria. Camellia, Deutzia, Hel- 

 wingia, Stachyurus ; and, besides 

 them, Panax, Hydrangea, Dielytra, 

 Kadsura, Hollboellia, Magnolia, Sas- 

 safras, and Trillium — the last eight 

 of which are also common to the 

 northern part of America. All these 

 genera are rare in Western Himalaya, 

 and but very few are found in Cash- 



mere ; while, on the other hand, a 

 great number of the trees and shrubs 

 of Europe which are neither indi- 

 genous to China, Japan, or North 

 America, are found in abundance in 

 Western Himalaya, and advance 

 even as far east as Siam. 



The Himalayan Aucnba is found at 

 an elevation of from 7,000 to 10,000 

 feet above the level of the sea, in 

 such situations as render it probable 

 that it will live and flourish in Europe 

 in the open air, if protected from the 

 spring frosts. It grows only in damp 

 localities, where mosses and lichens 

 are found suspended from its branches. 

 It is a very ornamental plant, espe- 

 cially during fructification, and re- 

 quires only the ordinary culture of 

 plants of the same kind, and may be 

 very readily propagated, when re- 

 quired, by grafting upon stocks of 

 the old species. M. Verschaffelt is 

 of opinion that this plant may be 

 grown and fruited in the open air, by 

 simply protecting it from the spring 

 frosts, in the same manner as peach- 

 trees are ordinarily protected in our 

 gardens ; but the only way to put the 

 matter beyond a doubt is to resort to 

 actual experiment, by which means it 

 can soon be satisfactorily ascertained 

 whether or not it is able to stand our 

 winter and spring frosts. If it proves 

 hardy, it will be a very desirable 

 acquisition to the garden, as its rich 

 clusters of coral red berries, when 

 seen peeping out from under the dark 

 green leaves, cannot fail to call forth 

 the unqualified admiration of all 

 beholders. 



A MODE OE OBTAINING NUMEROUS BUDS ON 

 CAMELLIAS. 



BX M. DAMANS, HOETICULTUUIST, OF GOELITZ. 



To produce this result, and obtain 

 fine healthy camellias, which will 

 remain in flower from the month of 

 December to April, they should be 

 repotted directly they have ceased 

 flowering and before their fresh buds 

 appear, which else would be sure to 

 sutler. The most suitable soil is that 



formed by a mixture of one part fat 

 loam with two parts peat-mould, 

 combined with the necessary quantity 

 of sand. The camellias are kept warm 

 and under cover until their new roots 

 begin to shoot forth. They must be 

 but moderately watered at the root, 

 but constantly and abundantly sy- 



