162 On the PeciiUarities of Foliage in the Camellia. 



form, somewhat like Camelh'a eximia, with a few stamens 

 and an imperfect style, which will make it very desirable 

 for the production of more perfect flowers of a new order of 

 seedlings. The growth of the plant is vigorous, and the foli- 

 age handsome. 



A few years ago, I had several seedling camellias, which 

 blossomed with imperfect petals, that is, the petals were de- 

 fective as to substance and coloring matter. Where the flower 

 was of a red color, there were white stripes and white edges ; 

 the white, or whitish parts, being defective in substance, had 

 a membranous appearance, instead of the fulness of petal of 

 the best varieties; the coloring matter was also defective. 



I have observed that all of the Chinese varieties of the 

 camellia, so far as I have cultivated them, which have been 

 introduced into our collections, have the substance of the col- 

 oring matter of the petals very perfect; but many of the Eng- 

 lish or European seedlings, and also several of our American 

 varieties, have the substance of the petals and coloring mat- 

 ter both imperfect; so much so, in some kinds, that the edges 

 and centre of many of the petals have a whitish and mem- 

 branous appearance; for instance, C. var. mutabilis. Fielder's 

 Queen Victoria, and sometimes Victoria, and others of the 

 same character, (though I need not notice the American vari- 

 eties which partake of the habit, for reasons unnecessary to 

 mention.) I have, for some time, endeavored to ascertain the 

 cause of this defect, but have yet been unable to do so. With 

 the hope, however, that some of your correspondents might 

 be able to communicate some information in relation to this 

 subject, I have ofl^ered these few suggestions. 



Washington^ Maich^ 1848. 



Our correspondent. Dr. Gunnell, is a zealous amateur in the 

 ■culture of the camellia, and he was the first to point out the 

 peculiarity of growth in the camellia by which white or 

 blush-colored varieties might be distinguished from red or 

 crimson ones long before they flowered, as we long since noted, 

 (Vol. VIII. p. 123.) His hints in regard to the peculiarity of 

 growth in spotted or striped seedlings are, therefore, worthy 

 of attention, and may lead to important and useful results. 

 —Ed. 



