THE CAMELLIA. 385 



but the habit is unquestionably bad. Lady Hume's Blush, 

 although one of the oldest varieties, is still of unsurpassed 

 loveliness, but is generally, although not ahvays, met with 

 in an unsatisfactory condition ; and even the old Double 

 White, which everybody grows, is open to improvement on 

 this ground it is a long way behind Elegans, for example, 

 in constitution. Those who may engage in raising seed- 

 lings should seek to obtain a cross between such kinds 

 and others of good habit and better constitution. In the 

 present state of the Camellia we may conceive increase of 

 size and substance, higher models of form, an extension of 

 the range of colour, as well as improvement of habit and 

 constitution, and work for the realisation of our con- 

 ceptions. And in this labour Nature, though abounding 

 in vagaries, is on the whole working with us, or, to put 

 the matter more correctly, we are working with her, and 

 she often encourages us with unlocked for results, which at 

 once help forward our aims and surprise and delight us. 



What florists call branch-sports are of frequent occur- 

 rence among Camellias, and this is a means of improve- 

 ment which should not be overlooked. It is not yet made 

 clear how these sports are produced, that is to say, it is not 

 within the gardener's power to produce them at will. 

 It would seem, however, that anything which leads the 

 plant out of its natural course especially an excessively 

 vigorous growth is favourable to their production. When 

 sports occur they should be scrupulously preserved by 

 inarching or grafting, a process which will be described 

 by-and-by. 



The exactness of form of many varieties of Camellias 

 appeals strongly to the sympathies and taste of the 

 educated florist, and those who take more delight in colour 

 than in form will find here the most varying and delicate 

 shades of white, rose, crimson, &c., and the great substance 

 of the petals presents the eye with a charming solidity of 

 colour scarcely met with in any other group of cultivated 

 plants. 

 Y 



