206 American Seedling Camellias. 



This variety was scarcely known in the vicinity of Boston, be- 

 fore the spring of J 834. At that time we visited most of the 

 nurseries in the vicinity of New lork, and took a few brief notes 

 of all we saw. Mr. Wilder had then just commenced making 

 a collection of plants, and the whole number of his camellias, at 

 that period, was not above a hundred and fifty. At his desire, 

 he wishing to be informed of all the beautiful plants around New 

 York, we gave him a very condensed account of our tour 

 through the gardens of that city. We have no copy of this, as 

 it was written very hastily, but among other plants, which we 

 more particularly mentioned, was the Camellm japonica, var. 

 Floyii. We were enraptured with its magnificence, and though 

 our admiration was expressed in no exaggerated terms, yet those 

 who had not seen it could scarcely believe us. In consequence 

 of our description of this camellia, Mr. Wilder, in the fall of the 

 same year, while on a visit to New York, purchased a fine plant 

 of Mr. Floy, at the high price of fifty dollars: it was the only 

 plant he had remaining of any size. In the spring of 1^S5, when 

 we visited Mr. Floy again, we were also desirous of possessing 

 a plant. But having none, only those of one year's inarching, 

 we declined paying the large sum demanded. Fortunately we 

 procured a pkint of Mr. Russell, florist, now at Brooklyn, N. \. 

 which he had purchased of Mr. Floy, with another just like it, the 

 year previous, to send to London. It is now the largest plant in 

 the country, excepting the original plant; Mr. Wilder having 

 worked seveial inarchings off of his, and reduced its size. 



We merely mention the latter circumstances, as through our 

 Magazine this variety has become better known than it would have 

 otherwise been, for some tim.e. At a future time, when we hope 

 to offer our own remarks upon the history and cultivation of the 

 camellia, we shall endeavor to give a more complete notice of 

 this superb variety. 



In regard to the introduction of this variety into Europe, we 

 believe the L'Abbe Berlese is incorrect. We think Mr. Buist 

 told us in the spring of 1835, that he had sent several plants to 

 his friends and correspondents in London; and we are inclined 

 to believe that Mr. Floy orlSfr. Russell sent it out previous to 

 this. Messrs. Cunnninghani, nurservmen of Liverpool, wrote us 

 in a letter dated Feb. 1835, that they had seen a plant of it which 

 had been sent to a gentlemen by a friend of his in ^ew lork. 

 This would make its date of introduction as early as 1834, and 

 perhaps previous to that. We notice these errors here, in order 

 that the L'Abbe Berlese, who will probably see this before 

 another edition of his JMonograpliie goes to press, may make the 

 necessary corrections. In the course of the present volume, we 

 fhall present to our readers, translations of such portions of this 

 Jllonographie, as will be interesting to all lovers of the camellia. 

 —Ed, 



