American Seedling Camellias. 205 



This plant was obtained from seed by Mr. Floy, of New-York, 

 where it flowered the first time in 1835. We have been advis- 

 ed that its owner refused a thousand francs for a single plant, of 

 only a foot in height, and wiih but one flower. 



The Camellia Floy was introduced into Europe the past year, 

 (IS36) by M. Alex. Vershaff'elt of Gand. That gardener sold 

 it, at a very high price, to M. Makoy of Liege, who afterwards 

 gave it the name of Grand Frederick. 



The description of this plant was transmitted to us, a few days 

 past from the United States, by a skilful cultivator, Mr. Wilder, 

 of Boston, who has added to his rare plants the finest collection 

 of camellias at present in his country. This worthy horticultu- 

 ralist had the goodness to send me, not only a strong plant of the 

 Camellm Floyj'i, but also a fine one of the Camellia Landrethii, 

 a new variety in America, and not yet introduced into Europe. 

 Mr. Wilder has also transmitted to me some notes on three oth- 

 er rare camellias, a description of which will appear in the con- 

 tinuation t>f my Jllonongrapliie, already augmented to more than 

 one hundred new varieties. L'Abbe' Berlese. 



We are highly gratified in presenting the above translation 

 to our readers, as it gives us an early opportunity of correct- 

 ing one or two mistakes, which the L'Abbe Berlese has been 

 led into, in regard to this flower. We saw the original plant 

 in bloom in Mr. Floy's collection in the spring of 18-34, at 

 which time it had expanded upwards of a dozen flowers. The 

 plant was then at least six feet high, very strong, and well 

 branched, and had probably flowered several years previous, 

 though we did not inquire of Mr. Floy respecting this, taking it for 

 granted, that a plant as vigorous as the one we saw was, that it 

 must have bloomed long before. The original plant must be, at 

 this time, as much as twenty years old. A friend of ours saw it 

 in 1823, when the plant was not more than a foot high, and it 

 then had one terminal bud upon it. Admiring its superb foliage, 

 which differs so much in size from all other camellias that we 

 have ever seen, he inquired of Mr. Floy what it was. He an- 

 swered that it w?.s a seedling; and in reply to a question in regard 

 to its value, he stated that he esteemed it very highly, as he ex- 

 pected great things from it, and would not part with it for a hun- 

 dred dollars. It is natural for all growers of seedlings, let them 

 be what plants they may, to consider them as above all price, but 

 we know not in this instance, what reason Mv. Floy had to prize 

 this so very highly. At any rate, his expectations of procuring a 

 fine variety were not disappointed, and we doubt much whether he 

 will ever produce another equalling this. It is to be regretted that 

 Mr. Floy does not recollect the variety from which the seed was 

 saved, or with what kinds the flower was, if at all, impregnated. 



