THE 



FLORICULTURAL CABINET, 



JANUARY 1st, 1844. 



PART I. 



EMBELLISHMENTS. 



ARTICLE I. 



CAMELLIA JAPONICA ALEXINA. 



Ternstrcemiace.*:. Monadklphia Poi-yandria. 

 This very beautiful Camellia is in the very select collection of 

 Messrs Low and Co., of the Clapton Nursery, and is now offered for 

 sale (as by Advertisement in the present Number). It is under- 

 stood to be the only Carnation Striped Camellia that has been 

 introduced into this country having imbricated flowers. 



The pretty flowering variety, Duchess of Orleans, is the nearest to 

 it in its flower, but the blossoms of Alexina is much larger, and the 

 stripes are of a much more intense colour, being strikingly distinct. 

 The foliage of the Duchess is of a sickly appearance, whilst the present 

 variety is of robust health. Taking C. Alexina, as a whole, it is by 

 far the finest light Camellia ever before sent out, and deserves a 

 place in every collection. 



The Camellia was first known in Europe from the accounts given 

 by early travellers to China and Japan, who relate that they had seen 

 in these countries rose-trees of the size of large oaks, having dark- 

 green shining leaves. Such accounts were considered fabulous till the 

 Asiatic traveller, the Jesuit George Joseph Kamel, who visited Japan 

 as a missionary in 1739, contrived to procure two plants of the single 

 red, which he brought to Europe, and sold to Lord Petre for a con- 

 siderable sum. His Lordship had them sent to the gardens at 

 Thornden Hall, in Essex, where, being kept in a hothouse temperature, 



Vol. XII. No. 131. a 



