HOUSE PLANTS. 369 



Its worst enemy is the red spider, whose ravages, if not speedily pn vented, 

 will prove fatal. If its attacks have reached a great ext<'ut the leaves are 

 brownish, having an appearance of decay, or of being scorched by the sun. 

 In taking hold of the leaf it feels soft, and seems to have lost its nutritive sub- 

 stance. When the young foliage expands it becomes covered with dark browa 

 spots, is very much disfigured, and ultimately death ensues. If any of the 

 plants seem thus affected, take a sponge and wash every leaf minutely wiih 

 soft water, and syringe them three or four times a week, which will keep them, 

 clean. All the young foliage will be healthy, and that which has been affected 

 will fall off. However, prevention is better than cure, and if the camellias are 

 properly syringed every evening during summer, and once or twice a week 

 through the winter, they will never be subject to the ravages of that destructive 

 insect. In case of accident, tie up to stakes any of the flowers that have ex- 

 panded, and in syringmg' observe not to let any of the water fall on the flowers, 

 as it will cause premature decay and loss of color. 



There are about eight distinct species of this plant known in oiir colleetif^rs 

 and the varieties of japonica approach one thousand, to which many are added 

 yearly. So rapid has been the increase of varieties in Europe, and even in 

 this country, that in many instances three or four distinct plants have come 

 out under the same name ; consequently great confusion has resulted. The 

 collections of this country were kept comparatively pure till within the last few 

 years, or since the anxiety of our cultivators to obt.iin variety caused them to 

 import from the French and German markets. In this article we cannot do 

 more than glance at the choicest varieties. 



C. alhaplena, common double white, is admired by the most casual observer, 

 and generally con.-idered a very superior flower from the purity of its white- 

 ness and the abundance of its large blossoms, which are closely and regularly 

 set with round petals. The foliage is large ; the plant grows freely. We have 

 seen one shoot grow two feet in a summer. The white camellia was imported 

 into Europe from China among the first of the varieties, about eighty years 

 ago, and is magnificent. 



Amahile. — This exceedingly perfect flower is rogulaily imbricated; the ex- 

 treme petals are bright rose, shading to delicate pmk, and in the centre light 

 red. The plant is full foliage, and of excellent habit; flowers about three 

 and a half inches in diameter. 



Versicolor. — Perfectly double ; color vivid red, with occasional splashes of 

 pure white. The flowers vary, and arc often only red; they are of long 

 duration — from six to eight Aveeks; foliage large, and dark, glossy green. 



Lady Hume's Blush, by some called huff, is a very double flower, beautifully 

 regular and imbricated, frequently hcxangular or star-like. The bottom of the 

 petals is most delicately tinged with blush, and the oentre has the appearance 

 of rose-colored vapor. It is a great favorite, and most deservedly so. It 

 flowers and grows freely; foliage rhomboid, elongate; nerves very visible, 

 surface smooth and pale green; distinctly seriate, and grows strong and erect. 



Madonna, the last variety I shall enumerate, is a very pure white, delicately 

 striped with bright rose ; perfectly imbricated and above medium size ; foliage 

 dark shining green. 

 . Monthly roses in all their varieties form an exquisite contrast to the dark, firm 

 foliage and sculptured perfection of the camellia. 'They seem almost the exa^-t 

 opposite, with their ever new shoots of fragile leaves on their graceful curving 

 stems. In the olden time no collection of plants was considered complete 

 without the rose. Monthly roses are easy of cultivation with a good frontage, 

 moderate warmth, and but little moisture except when flowering freely. 



In the garden, of course, roses are indispensable; and in the garden or the 

 house none are more popular than the tea rose. As this species require mor^e 



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