HYBRIDIZATION OF THE CAMELLIA JAPONICA. 



541 



have had special reference to the strength 

 and prominence of the style, the form of 

 th? corolla, and the perfection of its petals ; 

 and, I think, for raising varieties with 

 double flowers, we are more dependent, 

 than has generally been apprehended, on 

 the kind of pollen used ; viz., that zchich is 

 borne o?i a petal ; this petaloid change be- 

 ing, as I imagine, the incipient stage to- 

 wards a full petalous form. I entertain the 

 opinion, that varieties possessing the pre- 

 requisites thus described, Avhen fecundated 

 with this pollen, will, for the most part, 

 produce double seedlings, with petals more 

 or less multiplied, and not unfrequentlj'-, 

 flowers that are full and sj'mmetrical, and 

 devoid even of the seminal organs. It may 

 be here observed, that the larger and bet- 

 ter developed this petaloid anther, the bet- 

 ter the chance for a fine oifspring, for, as 

 Mr. Herbert remarks, " the corolla, in truth, 

 belongs to the male portion of the flower, 

 the anthers being borne upon it, or in some 

 manner connected with it by a membrane." 

 That single or semi-double sorts with 

 perfect corollas, are more certain to produce 

 flowers of a regular symmetrical formation, 

 I have pretty conclusive evidence, as will 

 presently be shown ; still, I have had good 

 success with those raised from the pasony, 

 or loose waratah formation, but the propor- 

 tion of such has been less ; and these have 

 been more frequently stuffed with small 

 petals, or their rudiments. This opinion, 

 in relation to the latter class, I am happy 

 to learn, is confirmed by the experience of 

 Noel J. Becar, Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y., 

 who, practicing on these principles, has 

 produced several fine varieties from C. Mid- 

 dlemist, C. Colvillii, C. imbricata alba, &c., 

 one of which, of first rate properties, from 

 C, Colvillii, by C. Donkaslarii, was on ex- 

 hibition at the rooms of the Society the past 

 winter. 



In corroboration of what has been stated, 

 I adduce the following illustrations taken 

 from my own memoranda; remarking, how- 

 ever, that the ofE-pring from the same cap- 

 sule has varied much, although in my judg- 

 ment conforming to the principles advanced. 



HYBRIDS FROM SKEDS OF SINGLE VARIETIES. 



From the Single Red, (the type of the genus,) 

 by pollen of C. punctata. 



Camellia Richardsonii, a very full lilac crimson 

 flower, with sixty to seventy petals, of the regu- 

 lar form. 

 Camellia Maria Louisa, perfectly double and 

 regular, sometimes hexangular, like C. Lady 

 Hume ; color deep rose, or crimson, with a pe- 

 culiar metallic lustre. 

 Camellia Wilderii, thus described in the Trans- 

 actions of the Society: "flower delicate clear 

 rose ; petals seventy-five to eighty in number, 

 beautifully imbricated and arranged with exqui- 

 site regularity." 



From a large single hybrid crimson, by C. Lind- 

 briata, a very full perfect flower, of the color of the 

 female parent, much liice C. concinna in form, but 

 more double. 



From C. Aitonia, by C. alba grandiflora ; double 

 white, large, nearly regular, but with occasionally 

 a few anthers. 



From Single White, by Anemonefiora alba ; nu- 

 merous white and parti-colored varieties, more or 

 less double, the best of which is a full creamy 

 white, striped with rose, like Duchesse d'Orleans, 

 but not so regular. 



examples from the seed of double varieties. 



From Camellia imbricata alba, by pollen of the 

 C. variegata ; a douijle white, nearly of the regular 

 form, with a few stamens. 



From C. King, by C. variegata ; a full symme- 

 trical flower, very dark crimson, striped with white 

 — peculiar. 



From C. elegans, by C. punctata ; an enormous 

 large, globular, white flower, of the irregular 

 shape. 



From C. LLiidbriata, by C. punctata ; very clear 

 beautiful pink ; corolla and petals largo, like the 

 female plant, but not entirely full. 



From C. Lindbriata. by C. alba grandiflora ; a 

 very thick, full, globular flower, white, striped 

 with rose. 



From C. Colvillii, by C. Donka^larii ; a double 

 symmetrical flower ; color, delicate rose or pink, 

 striped with white. 



From the same, by the same, a very perfect 

 double flov\er ; color, clear rose. 



From C. puncta(a, (male parent not known,) 

 Eurydice Augusta, a perfect regular flower ; co- 

 lor, light rose, broadly striped with white, and re- 



