Observations on the Caincllia. 15 



that he brought over with him, from Eni^hind, in July, 1800, a plant of 

 the Double White, for Jolm Stevens, Esq., of Hoboken, New Jersey, 

 who had two or three years previously imported the Sina;le Red. Tlie 

 precise time of its introduction into New England is not known; but 

 it must have been soon after, as in 1806, John Prince, Esq. received 

 of the late Joseph Barrell, of Charlestown, a small plant of the 

 Double White. 



The Camellia japonica became now more generally known and 

 admired; and between this time and 1812, accessions were made, by 

 importations from China, into Great Britain, of the Lady Hume's 

 Blush, anemoneflora, myrtifolia, atrorubens, Pomponia, pa;onifl6ra 

 and most of what are now called common varieties. Since 1812, the 

 importations into England have been small, compared with the number 

 of seedling varieties, which have been raised by cross-impregnation. 

 The first seedling exliibited to the London Horticultural Society, was 

 presented by Mr. Ross, of Stoke Newington, in 1824, and was con- 

 sidered so much of a curiosity, that a medal was awarded him for his 

 success, and is the Camellia now known as Camellia japonica Rossi. 

 Since which, there have been a great number of seedling varieties 

 raised, not only in England, but in France, Germany, and some few 

 in the United States. So well is the art now understood, that a 

 writer, in a late tour on the continent, observes, that there are large 

 houses, in the vicinhy of Ghent, devoted entirely to Camellias, with 

 extensive collections not yet named. Indeed, there is no end to the 

 seedlings that may be raised by cross-impregnation, and the day is 

 not far distant, when the Camellia japonica will rival the far famed 

 Rose, in the number of its varieties. 



There have been, from time to time, numerous exhibitions of new 

 kinds at the meetings of the London Horticultural Society, and to 

 which the Messrs. Chandler, of the Vauxhall nursery, have been 

 large contributors ; having shown, of their own raising, within a few 

 years, eleven varieties, of first rate excellence. Mr. Press, of Horn- 

 sey, has also produced several of unparalleled beauty; and his name 

 will be long associated with the Eclipse, invincible, and Rose of the 

 World. In France, great success has been realized in raising seed- 

 lings, if we may judge by the catalogues, some of them enumerating 

 more than two hundred varieties of the Camellia japonica. 



The Camellia will succeed tolerably well in any good, rich soil. 

 But that more generally used at the present day, in England, is com- 

 posed of one part peat, or bog earth, and two parts a strong yellow 

 loam. The compost I have used, and in which my Camellias have 

 grown beyond my most sanguine expectations, consists of two parts 

 peat, two parts rich maiden loam, from an old pasture, and one part 

 each of leaf soil and sand ; the whole of which should be well mixed, 

 and turned over several times before usinu, but not sifted. Should 

 it be desirable to increase the growth rapidly, a larger proportion of 

 peat may be used ; but in this compost they will not be so prolific in 

 their flower buds. 



