2 ALEXINA CAMELLIA. 



they were killed. The gardener at Thornden, at that time, was a Mr. 

 James Gordon, who, in 1742, commenced a nursery at Mile End, 

 near London. He, being somewhat aware of the value of so orna- 

 mental a plant as the Camellia, managed it so as soon to procure 

 another plant, which he put out in the open border of a conservatory, 

 where it continued to grow for ninety-four years, till the nursery was 

 broken up to build upon in 1837; from it, it is supposed, many 

 thousands of young plants had been raised as stools to bud, inarch, 

 &c, the subsequent double kinds. It is generally understood that 

 the Camellia was introduced into this country in 1792, but the above 

 fact confirms the introduction from 1739 to 1742. Mr. Gordon died 

 in 1780, and he had not only obtained the single red, but the double 

 white and red striped. The single red, too, was figured in the 

 Botanical Magazine in 1787, where it is observed that the plant will 

 very probably be found as hardy as the Laurustinus or Magnolia. 

 The plant was then sold at a very high price, and in consequence 

 prevented its being hazarded as trial. 



The species and varieties introduced from China to this country, 

 in addition to the one now figured, are C. euryoides, white, C. Ja- 

 ponica, red, C. Kissi, white, C. oleifera, white, C reticulata, red, 

 and C. Sasanqua, single white, double white, semi-red, and double 

 red. The varieties raised in British and continental gardens now 

 exceed one thousand; all are pretty, but many of them peculiarly 

 handsome. 



The soil best adapted for the Camellia, is one part turfy heath, two 

 parts of rich turfy loam, to which add another equal part consisting 

 of a portion of sharp sand, bone dust, and charcoal in small bits about 

 the size of a field bean, and a similar quantity of well rotted hot-bed 

 dung. These being incorporated well together, chopped notsifted, for 

 four months before using, make a compost for the plants we have 

 never seen equalled. In potting use a free drainage of turf cut into 

 pieces the size of an Orleans plum, over which place an inch of moss, 

 and when putting in the compost in potting, drop in a few pieces of 

 gritty stone, in order to absorb any overplus of water. When potting 

 take care to have the soil moderately dry, and in filling it in round the 

 ball to do it in regular layers, pressing it rather firm so that no space 

 be left. Many cultivators advise repotting just before the plants 

 begin to grow. We think this plan better adapted for nurserymen, 



