ON THE CAMELLIA AND ITS CULTURE. 365 



In the end of June and throughout July heavy rains and 

 frequent thunderstorms prevail. In August, September, 

 and October the weather is usually dry and fine. The 

 south-west monsoon, which prevails during the summer 

 months, now changes to the north-east, and the weather 

 becomes variable during the latter part of the autumn and 

 winter. Those who know how to cultivate the Camellia 

 in Europe will see at once how well such a climate is 

 suited to its constitution. It has in its native home a 

 winter cold enough and dry enough to check vegetation 

 and to secure a period of rest ; an early and fine spring, 

 during which time the flowers bud forth into bloom ; a 

 moist atmosphere in the growing season ; and a dry and 

 warm summer and autumn to ripen the young shoots. 



" I generally found the Camellia growing in woods, 

 where it was partially shaded from the sun by other trees, 

 and in these situations it often attained a height of from 

 30 to 40 feet. The wild plants have usually single or only 

 semi-double flowers. The foliage of these trees is exceed- 

 ingly handsome a dark glossy green. The double- 

 flowered kinds, which have been from time to time im- 

 ported to Europe, are garden varieties, and are only met 

 with in a cultivated state. 



'" There are several species of Camellia found in China, 

 but with one exception namely, C. reticulata none are 

 so handsome as C. japonica and its varieties, and of these 

 we in Europe have a more extensive and finer assortment 

 than the Chinese have themselves. 



" In Japan the Camellia is also found in a wild state. 

 I met with it frequently in shady woods like those in 

 which I had seen it in China. In Japan Camellia 

 Sasanqua is used for ornamental hedges round the gardens 

 near Yeddo, the capital of the country. In November 

 these hedges are very beautiful, when the white and rose- 

 coloured varieties of the species are in full bloom." 



The Camellias originally introduced by Lord Petre in 

 739 were killed by being kept in a hothouse this was 



