312 TREES AND SHRUBS 



these little-understood hardy shrubs : " The best 

 Camellias for planting out of doors in the open air 



are those which bloom late and start late into 



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growth; such, for instance, as Chandleri elegans or 

 Anemonceflora ; the varieties with broad roundish 

 leaves appear to grow in more robust fashion than 

 those having narrow pointed ones with a serrated 

 edge, though the latter will make sometimes very 

 compact bushes. It is possible that the sorts with 

 dark-red flowers are hardier than those with pink. 

 The old double white seems to stand the cold well 

 enough, but it hides its flowers rather too much 

 among the foliage to make any effective display of 

 them, though in this way they are often secured 

 from frost or bad weather and made serviceable 

 for cutting. To train against a trellis or wall 

 Doncklaarii is very good, and next to reticulata one of 

 the most beautiful when well grown, blooming so 

 freely. 



"Camellias appear to grow in almost any aspect, 

 but are naturally sun lovers ; and though preferring 

 peat, they will do in most other soils, provided that 

 there is no lime present. The points of the young 

 roots are very sensitive to drought, so should be 

 protected until well established, by light mulching 

 or a surrounding growth, from the risk of being 

 withered up by a fierce sun striking the ground in 

 which they are starting. Unlike many other shrubs, 

 they seem to have the advantage of being exempt 

 from the destructive attention of rabbits ; perhaps 

 when snow is on the ground they might be barked, 



