MONOGRAPHY OF THE GENUS CAMELLIA. 15 



fructified in several countries, and furnished varieties which were long 

 esteemed. 



But in 1792, the beautiful varieties of the White^ the Variegated, and 

 Double Red appeared at the same time, when, of course, the admiration for 

 the type, immediately diminished. 



Since these three first varieties, Japan and China have furnished us with 

 others, equally remarkable, such as the Incarnata in 1806, the Myrtifoli in 

 1808, the Warrata in 1809, and finally the P^onice flora, and the Pom- 

 fonia in 1810. 



As several of these varieties, and especially, the thre last have fructified 

 in our own gardens, there have been obtained from their legitimate and 

 adulterous unions, varieties and hybrids of the most interesting character. 

 Time, culture and accident have, in their turn, induced these new products 

 to give birth to others, which, without contradiction, equal in merit those 

 which have been received directly from their native countries. This easy 

 mode of reproduction, — by fructification, — having become general, and as 

 the results are continually augmenting, enlightened cultivators are united in 

 their fears, that in the future, the numerous varieties which are daily exposed 

 in the flower market, will soon produce great confusion, and there will be 

 invincible difiiculties to direct their course in this floral labyrinth, if a clue 

 is not found to guide them, by establishing an order of classification, which 

 shall quadrate with the demands of horticulture, and the trade in these 

 universally admired shrubs. This fear, in which we equally participate, has 

 encouraged us, to publish our ideas on the subject, and to propose a method 

 which every one can comprehend, and accomplish, so far as our feeble abili- 

 ties will permit, the object which we have proposed, — that of being useful to 

 horticulture. 



For this purpose, we have adopted the most simple and natural mode, — 

 that of dividing the Camellias into two classes, from their general color j viz. 

 Camellia unicolores, and Camellia bicolores. The first class comprehends 

 the simple colors which are more or less pure and deep ; the second contains 

 the mixed colors, more or less determinate and striking. The results of these 

 views is contained in the annexed tables, where are explained, in an abridged 

 manner, all these differences, besides the form, species, or variety of the 

 Camellia, its origin, and introduction into Europe. 



