THE CAMELLIA. 401 



much depending on the age and condition of the plant, 

 and beyond this, certain varieties break more freely than 

 others, and are consequently more easily renovated. 



We believe that pruning both of healthy and unhealthy 

 plants might be entirely dispensed with if the practice of 

 rubbing out the supernumerary or ill-placed eyes (dis- 

 budding) was more freely resorted to in the earliest stages 

 of the new growth. 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF THE BEST VARIETIES FOR 

 VARIOUS PURPOSES. 



It always appears to us a most difficult matter to 

 give lists of the best of anything unless one knows the 

 circumstances under which they are to be grown, or the 

 precise objects the cultivator has in view. With regard 

 to Camellias, some value them for the symmetry and 

 beauty of the flower where even the ideal of beauty is 

 not always the same; some value more highly the habit 

 of the plant; some, where the glass structures are small, 

 ignore altogether plants of rampant growth; and others, 

 where there are large conservatories, require such to 

 furnish them. With the view of meeting all requirements, 

 I shall arrange the varieties in three groups : 



1. Exact or symmetrical flowers, selected to meet the 

 florist's taste. 



2. Free-flowering varieties, which produce the finest 

 effect viewed en masse. 



3. Large-growing varieties, suited only for conser- 

 vatories. 



i. Exact or Symmetrical F/owers, selected to meet the 

 Florisfs Taste. 



1. Adelina Benvenuti. Flowers flesh-colour; flaked and 

 dotted with crimson, large, full, flat, imbricated; petals 

 pointed, even and regular; foliage and habit fine. 



2. Adriana. Flowers rosy-crimson, broadly striped 

 Z 



