MONOGRAPHY OF THE GENUS CAMELLIA. 17 



CHAPTER SECOND. 



Section 1 . — The Cultivation of the Camellia. 



The Camellia of Japan is, incontestably, one of the most beautiful con- 

 quests, which horticulture has achieved, during the last century. The mag- 

 nificent form and appearance of this shrub, the rare elegance of its foliage, 

 the beauty and size of the flowers, the season in which they appear j their 

 variety, their abundance and their duration, are qualities which no other 

 vegetable possesses, in such an eminent degree, and which assign it a dis- 

 tinguished rank, among the most admired plants that are selected, for aug- 

 menting our pleasure and gratifying our taste in floriculture. But all these 

 advantages are yet, very far, from being generally appreciated, notwith- 

 standing this plant is every where received, by admirers without number j 

 still it is much to be regretted, by enlightened horticulturists, that it is not 

 more extended, more zeal evinced for its acquisition, and above all, better 

 cultivated. 



We daily hear, even well informed persons, observe, that the Camellia 

 is a very difficult plant to manage, and that it is too dear j or that it requires 

 green-houses, especially appropriated to it, and that it is very expensive to 

 preserve themj while others abandon them because they have not a suffi- 

 cient extent of ground for their accommodation, or a gardener sufficiently 

 well educated to superintend their cultivation j and finally, many of those, 

 who undertake their culture, soon give it up, because they do not succeed in 

 making them bloom freely, and in the most perfect manner. 



Devoted, for twenty years to the special culture of the Camellia, we are 

 emboldened by the experience acquired, during that long lapse of time, to 

 attempt the removal of all these enumerated difficulties, by describing, as far 

 as our feeble abilities will permit, the manner in which this plant can be 

 easily cultivated, preserved, multiplied, and made to bloom annually. 



Although the Camellia is a shrub of a rustic nature, and does not require 

 an elevated temperature, nor an extraordinary rich soil for its vegetation j 

 although it can accommodate itself to all expositions; still it is better to be 

 sheltered J and notwithstanding it can endure considerable cold, without 

 perishing, yet, to enable it to acquire a vigorous vegetation, and blossom 



