302 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



such hardy kinds as C. Sasanqua and 

 the late flowering C. Donckelaari \ the 

 Camellia is so late in making growth 

 that it runs less risk from frost than many 

 other shrubs that are grown against 

 walls. When in the open they should be 

 grouped in sheltered places, often doing 

 best in partial shade. Their dread of 

 chalk is proverbial, otherwise they are 

 not difficult as to soil, the great point 

 in planting being to water constantly 

 until well established. 



The other species of Camellia (with 

 which the Tea-bush is now included) 

 are not much grown in gardens, though 

 nearly a score of wild kinds are known. 

 They are all from eastern Asia, extend- 

 ing from India to Japan, and south into 

 Malacca, and are plants of the hills rather 

 than the plain. The following have 

 figured in British gardens, but the less 

 showy kinds have passed out of culti- 

 vation : — 



Himalayan Camellia (C drupifera) . — A 

 shrub or low tree found upon hills of eastern 

 Asia from the Himalayas into China. It comes 

 very near C. Sasanqua; its solitary white flowers, 

 1 1 inches across, are smaller and less showy; 

 its leaves have a strong smell of tea but not 

 much of its flavour. 



Hairy Camellia (C. euryoides). — A low 

 bushy shrub of 6 to 8 feet, found upon the 

 mountainsin Formosa and parts of China, more 

 curious than beautiful and much used by the 

 Chinese as a stock for better kinds. It is the 

 smallest of known kinds, with small pointed 

 leaves, toothed, and covered beneath with silky 

 hairs ; white cup-shaped flowers, half-an-inch 

 across, borne from May to July. Brought to 

 this country in 1 822 as a stock for grafted kinds, 

 it was never in general demand and soon passed 

 out of cultivation. 



The Hongkong Camellia(C '. hongkongen- 

 sis). — A tall kind found only in one district, 

 and so rare that at one time only three trees 

 were said to exist. A small plant is now at Kew, 



but so far has not flowered. It is the largest of 

 the group, with broad shining leaves like a 

 Cherry Laurel and rosy flowers 3 inches across. 



The Common Camellia {C. japonic d). — 

 Though some 1,500 hybrids and garden va- 

 rieties of this species have been known, the 

 kinds that mostly interest now are the single 

 ones with their bold clusters of yellow stamens. 

 These are pretty, not too large, and free from 

 the stiffness of the double kinds. They are found 

 now in several colours, of which Gaunt/etfs 

 White and Takayama — of rich crimson-scarlet 

 — are good examples ; fine semi-double kinds 

 are Donckelaari and oc/iro/euca, and Mr. San- 

 der of St. Alban's has got some very fine kinds. 

 Though less variable in leaf there are several 

 distinct forms, such as the Myrtle-leaved Ca- 

 mellia, with small and narrow leaves and slender 

 growth; variegata, with leaves finely blotched 

 and mottled flowersof white and crimson ; and 

 quercifb/ia, a rare kind so hardy and early in 

 j flower as to be one of the best for outdoors, 

 I bearing singleflowersandlongleaveswidening 

 towards the tip in a way unlike any other kind. 

 The best means of increase are cuttings of firm 

 shoots made in early autumn and rooted in pots 

 ; of peat and sand or pure coarse sand, under 

 frames in gentle heat. Where there are old 

 plants of poor kinds it is easy to renew these by 

 cutting back to near the ground early in Janu- 

 ary, and grafting the stump some two months 

 later with shoots of the new single or other 

 good kinds; the soil should be kept rather dry 

 meanwhile, with a cool temperature, for if 

 started ofF too freely the rush of sap prevents 

 union. Trees thus grafted with several scions 

 soon make large plants for cutting. In many 

 parts of Europe the Japanese Camellia is as truly 

 at home as on its native hills, the south of Ire- 

 land, the Scilly Isles, and Brittany being ex- 

 amples near home, and the neighbourhood of 

 Oporto, and the Italian Lakes, in southern 

 Europe. 



Oil-bearing Camellia (C. oleifera). — A 

 pretty shrub of 10 feet, once not uncommon 

 in gardens but now lost. It is of stout growth 

 with thick pointed leaves, deeply toothed at the 

 edges, and sweet flowers 2 inches across and 

 massed as thick as a snow-drift. Hillsides of 

 Cochin China. A fragrant oil is pressed from 

 its seeds. Some authors regard this as only a 

 variety of C. Sasanqua. 



