300 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The above-mentioned plants, with the exception of a few 

 Ericas, Acacias, Indian Azaleas, and Genistas, made up the con- 

 tents of the house, showing what a complete and satisfactory- 

 show can be made during the winter with our beautiful hardy 

 spring-flowering plants, both native and foreign. 



To set forth in detail the many points necessary to bring this 

 class of plants to the proper stage would encroach too much 

 upon your time. 



Hoping this will prove what you desire, 



I remain very sincerely, 



Charles JACKS0^r Dawsox. 



August 28, 1896. 



Camellia House on the Estate of the late Fraxcis B. 

 Hayes, Oakmoxt, Lexington. 

 Not since the days of Hovey and Wilder has this once pop- 

 ular flower been grown to the perfection in which it is now seen 

 at Oakmont ; indeed at the places mentioned, although there were 

 fine collections, it was not cultivated to the extent that it is here. 

 Many of the plants here were from Mr. Wilder's collection. It 

 is true that the Camellia is not the popular florist's flower that it 

 once was ; still it is altogether too useful to be discarded. If the 

 rose has supplanted it in a great measure, for certain decorative 

 purposes it is superior to the rose. One of the reasons it suc- 

 ceeds so admirably here is the fact that the plants are grown in 

 a bed specially prepared for them. This bed is thirty feet 

 square, and a few are grown in pots. The bed has been planted 

 nine years ; the largest plant in the house stands twelve feet 

 high and ten feet through ; the trunk is eighteen inches in cir- 

 cumference. This plant has produced the present season more 

 than a thousand flowers and buds. The collection comprises 

 fifty-nine varieties. The varieties planted out are : 



Alba plena (the old Double White). — Flowers pure white; 

 large, full ; petals round, evenly and regularly arranged ; form 

 perfect. 



Armida Nova. 



Candidisslnia. — Late blooming, double white; a very 'compact 

 grower ; the plants have a shapely appearance, and flower very 

 freely. 



