374 



THE HARDINESS OF THE CAMELLIA. 



the treasures of written wisdom. So, too, 

 while his fields are sleeping beneath frost 

 and snow, what profession affords more 

 available opportunities for self-culture ? 

 Nothing can be more false than the idea of 

 some, that the hard hand of rural industry, 

 and the refinement of a cultivated mind, 

 are incompatible with each other. Where 

 was the lyric poetry composed, that makes 

 Scotland prouder of her Burns than of all 

 her ancient race of warlike kings ? Was 

 it not between the handles of the Mossgeil 

 plough ? 



Of all the employments that busy men, 

 here in this present state of existence, the 

 cultivation of the earth is distinguished, as 

 affording the best opportunities for an ex- 

 tended range of mental discipline, for ad- 

 vancing in true refinement, for social, rural 

 and religious improvement ! 



Whatever we have thus far said, should 

 be regarded as merely the enunciation of 

 propositions, and sufficient for the subject 

 of a volume. 



And now, last of all, agriculture shall 

 put forth her highest claim. Of all men, 

 the farmer alone walks in the path where 



God himself first took the created image 

 by the hand, and led the way " to dress and 

 to keep" his garden — the earth ! Confiding 

 in God, the husbandman ploughs his fruit- 

 ful fields, while the birds of spring are sing- 

 ing praises around, him. Buoyant with 

 hope, he scatters the seed upon the grounds 

 and gratefully receives the early and the 

 latter rain, coming down from heaven to 

 give the increase. And never did rational 

 man yet apply the sickle to the golden 

 grain, without some vague idea of gratitude 

 to God, the giver of harvests '. 



Indeed, the husbandman's whole life,, 

 rightly viewed, is a "walking with God." 

 And though thousands may not often think 

 of this, and but a few,, even in any small 

 degree, appreciate it as they ought, never- 

 theless the assertion claims to be true. 



If there be anything in what we have 

 written, it will not be denied that the hum- 

 blest efforts to elevate the character, and tON 

 increase the self-respect, of those who cul- 

 tivate the earth, are efforts which must ever 

 rank high among the loftiest deeds of patri- 

 otism. George Jaques. 



Worcester, Mass-, Dec. &, 1848. 



NOTES ON THE HARDINESS OF THE CAMELLIA 



BY JAMES RITCHIE, PHILADELPHIA- 



I SEE, in your January number, a notice, 

 taken from the Gardeners'' Chrordcle, re- 

 garding the hardiness of the Camellia. 



In reading this notice, it occurred to me 

 that many growers in the eastern states, are 

 ignorant of the hardiness of the Camellia ; 

 and I offfer you some little of my experience 

 as to the extent of frost they will bear with- 

 out injury. Having been a grower of Ca- 

 mellias to a considerable extent, for the 



last twelve years, I may be able to lay some 

 few facts of interest before your numerousr 

 readers. 



Camellias are grown (in the northern 

 states) in pots or tubs, and kept in the green- 

 house at a heat of from 35° to 55^, (Fahren- 

 heit thermometer,) and even as high as GO'^y 

 according to the wish of the grower, for the 

 purpose of opening their flowers in early 

 winter. At that season, when other flowers 



