682 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



being lifted up, allow the two opposite sides 

 to fold down, (as partly shown in the sketch), 

 these being hinged, at their lower parts, to the 



ORANGE OR CAMELLIA BOX. 



bottom frame of the tub. The form is some- 

 what tapered for appearance' sake, and they are 

 elevated from the floor of the house upon wooden 

 blocks, which, while it preserves them from 

 decay, admits air to the roots through the per- 

 forations in the bottom, as well as secures suffi- 

 cient drainage. 



Soil. — The French and Germans very gene- 

 rally grow their camellias in peat ; the English 

 as generally in peat and loam ; while many, 

 and ourselves amongst the number, prefer light 

 rich mellow loam, reduced in tenacity by a 

 portion of white silvery sand. Peat varies in 

 its nature so much, that while in some kinds 

 of it the camellia will grow, in others it will 

 not long continue to exist. Fresh maiden light 

 loamy soil is, as a general rule, that most to be 

 depended upon ; and, as in the case of the ma- 

 jority of flowering plants, no enrichment should 

 be added at the time of potting, unless the soil 

 is very poor indeed. 



Planting out the camellia in prepared borders. 

 — This is often done in conservatory borders 

 where the camellia is planted indiscriminately 

 along with other plants, having no natural 

 affinity with each other either in character or 

 treatment. If planted out at all, they should 

 be placed in a house by themselves, or along 

 with such plants as are somewhat allied to them, 

 such as those named at p. 678. A span-roofed 

 structure is the best, because the plants are 

 better exposed to light and air ; a lean-to house 

 the worst, because they are certain to become 

 one-sided, the branches always drawing towards 

 the light. Where such absurdities exist as a 

 house with a dead wall or opaque side, the 

 camellia may be planted against it, and trained 

 to a trellis ; but in such a case the prepared 

 borders should be elevated above the floor of 

 the house at least to the height of 2 feet, and if 

 rendered hollow below, so much the better. 

 If planted in the centre bed of the house, it 

 should assuredly be vaulted underneath, to 

 insure warmth and freedom from damp at the 

 roots. In either case, however, the display of 

 bloom will come almost at the same time, and 

 therefore shorten the season of their display. 



It is better, as a general rule, to grow them in a 

 portable state, by which they can be retarded or 

 advanced in flowering as already noticed. Their 

 roots are under the control of observation, 

 which they are not when planted permanently 

 out ; and as most of the ailments which befall 

 them arise from derangement at the roots, the 

 remedies are better applied. Planted-out camel- 

 lias are often apt to grow, for the first few 

 years, too much to wood, and too little to bloom; 

 for a few years after, their growth becomes 

 moderated; they flower pretty well, but in time 

 the soil becomes exhausted, and they commence 

 a rapid decline, and ultimately perish. The 

 plants, and the structure they are grown in, are 

 both of too artificial a character for us to 

 attempt giving a natural appearance to their 

 arrangement. 



Camellias, like oranges, should be, when of a 

 large size, planted in highly artistic vases or 

 boxes, of which figs. 548, 549, vol. i., offer ex- 

 cellent examples ; and a greater variety may be 

 seen in the establishment of Messrs Minton at 

 Stoke-upon-Trent. 



The slate tubs manufactured by Mr Beck of 

 Isleworth (vide Orangery), or our own orange- 

 tub, fig. 260, are so constructed that they 

 may be taken to pieces without disturbing the 

 ball, and admit of the roots being examined, 

 and fresh soil applied with the greatest facility. 



The varieties of camellias are now so nume- 

 rous as far to exceed the bounds of utility. New 

 varieties are yearly appearing ; not one out of 

 many are equal to some long in cultivation ; 

 and although some very fine ones are occasion- 

 ally produced, they are few compared to the 

 many not worth the attention of the cultivator, 

 who prefers a selection of fine blooming sorts to 

 a long catalogue of names. A few well- selected 

 varieties will ever be found the most satisfac- 

 tory. 



SELECT LIST OF CAMELLIAS. 



Whites. — Alba pleno, Old double white— of 

 this there are two or three excellent varieties; 

 Alba pleno, var. Fimbriata, and of this the variety 

 Insignis is no doubt an improvement; Candidis- 

 sima, Decus Italicum, Edita, Innocenza, Magni- 

 fica, Martha, Myrtifolia alba, Peine des vierges, 

 Low's imbricata, Ochroleuca. 



Pink or rose-coloured. — Lefebvriana, Tri- 

 umphans amabilis, Woodsia, Apollinea dTtalie, 

 Hendersonii, Caroline, Chandlerii elegans, Vexillo 

 di Flore, Felecite, Pictorium superbum roseum, 

 Rubini, Pulasky, Imbricata, Bella di pistola, 

 Berenice, Palmerii, Paride, Roi Leopold, Storyii, 

 Wilderi. 



Salmon-coloured. — Palmer's superba, Cooperii, 

 Fordii, Brownii, Henri Favre, Rubescens striata, 

 Globosa coccinea. 



Deep red or scarlet. — Zeffiro, Sophia d'ltalie, 

 Sylvie d'ltalie, Strombio, Vauxii, Chandler's 

 eximia, Gretry, Bealii, Mathotiana, Mazeppa. 



Blotched or striped. — Marchioness of Exeter, 

 Duchess d'Orleans, Queen Victoria, Arch- 

 duchess Augusta, Baltimoreana, Prince Albert, 

 Camellia de la Reine, Craswelliana, Due de Bre- 



