Washington, D. C. 85 



the blooms must be from strong plants, four feet high and well 

 established, than from those annually turned out of pots into 

 the ground. Stout and vigorous suckers are thrown up which 

 are terminated with immense clusters of flowers. Growing 

 in this way we saw the blush and yellow Tea, Triumph of 

 Luxembourg, Lamarque. and other equally fine kinds in 

 great perfection. Young plants of the newer sorts were Le 

 Pactole, Ida Percot, Wm. Wallace and others. Pyramids 

 of the cypress vine which we noticed here on our previous 

 visit, had been in flower from the ground to the top of the 

 pyramid ; but the chilly nights of October, rather unusual 

 for the season, had checked the growth and blooming of the 

 plants. 



Flower Garden of John Douglas. — During the summer 

 just past, Mr. Douglas had erected a fine building upon his 

 land, the lower floor of which he will occupy himself as a 

 seedstore and, general warehouse for garden tools, books, 

 &c. It was not yet completed, but would be in readiness for 

 his spring trade, which, in Washington, commences in Feb- 

 ruary, The range of greenhouses adjoins the store, and is 

 very convenient for the purposes of exhibition and sale, 

 nearly or quite all of the plants being raised at his father's 

 garden about two miles from the city. 



Mr. Douglas had just commenced moving in the camellias 

 and other plants which, owing to building and the danger 

 of injuring them, were not brought in sooner. The 

 camellias we found in the very best health — the plants are 

 grown in a compost of nearly or quite three quarters good 

 rich loam, and a quarter only of leaf mould, manure and 

 sand ; and the foliage was abundant — of a rich green tint, 

 and the shoots were covered with plenty of good promi- 

 nent buds. The use of more loam and less peat is a recent 

 improvement on the culture of camellias in Washington. 

 Two years ago we found nearly every plant in the collec- 

 tion of Dr. Gunnell, grown in two thirds or more of peat, 

 and the plants showed at once the condition of the roots. 

 Mr. Douglas stated to us that since he had made use of 

 more loam, he found the plants required less water and far 

 less attention, and there was no danger of losing a plant if, 

 accidentally, watering was overlooked for a day or two. 

 As the camellia is destined to become so popular a plant, 

 and as so many collections are mismanaged, we are partic- 

 ular to point out all the improvements which are made in 



