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POPULAR GARDEN BOTANY. 



The name of this interesting genus was derived from 

 a Jesuit of the name of Kamel. The Tea-tree of China, 

 Camellia viridis and Boliea, is now formed into a genus, 

 and known as Thea ; the species are tolerably hardy, and 

 only require the shelter of the frame or greenhouse in the 

 winter ; the flowers are white, and the shrubs are occasion- 

 ally introduced here as a curiosity ; but the Camellia japonica 

 far transcends them in beauty, and is a very great favourite 

 in the greenhouse, and most deservedly so ; the fine wax- 

 like flowers of pure white or deep red, and the deep green 

 shining foliage forming a beautiful contrast. This spe- 

 cies has now spread into very many varieties, which differ 

 principally in their colours ; thus there is the single and 

 double red; the single and double white; and the semi- 

 double white and red; the pseony- flowered rose, blush, or 

 white ; the pale yellow-flowered, the crimson, the double- 

 striped, and many others. Some of these varieties have 

 been introduced from China, as well as the original, for the 

 Chinese are exceedingly fond of cultivating this plant, and 

 it is frequently found in their paintings. C Sasanqua is a 

 white- or pink-flowering species, with varieties, semi-double 

 and double; malifiora is pink-flowered; Kissi, white, and 

 reticulata, scarlet-flowered : Kissi is found in Nepaul. The 



