AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
85 
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Camellia—town. 
This is a new variety of this well known and 
popular flower. It was raised by Hugh Low &Co , 
of the Clapton nurseries, near London. There 
are now a very large number of varieties of the 
camellia in cultivation. Many of them, in form 
and richness of color, of both flower and foliage, 
approach very near to perfection, and seemingly 
leave nothing to be desired. Yet there are still 
points to be attained in some of the sections of 
the family which will be a decided improvement. 
Among the white flowered varieties we have near¬ 
ly reached the climax as to form, and of rose 
colors which so much abound in the new hybrids, 
we have plenty that are all that could be asked. 
But we have still no good crimson—that is a 
perfect well filled up flower. Eximia is good 
alone in color. Malholtiana, which is also new, 
is very little better in form, but is still a trifling 
improvement. Lowii, here shown, is the greatest 
advance yet made in this direction. The anthers 
of the flower are perfect; the petals are broad, 
finely imbricated, and of good substance, but 
wanting in the center. It appears as if the whole 
energies of the plant had been expended upon the 
splendid outer rows of petals of the flower, and 
it had not strength to finish the work. The color 
also fades a little in the center upon full expansion. 
Still we can recommend this variety to all lovers 
of the camellia as the best crimson yet known. 
The habit of the plant is good ; the foliage, very 
dark green, of great substance. It has a rather 
dwarf habit of growth, and flowers late in the 
season. 
Plants that are Raised from Seed. 
Among younger readers, and perhaps older ones 
who are new hands at cultivation, there seems to 
be incorrect notions in regard to propagating plants 
from seed. Thus, for example, we have fre¬ 
quent applications for seeds of Blackberries, Rasp¬ 
berries, Strawberries, Currants, Gooseberries, 
Grapes, Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, Quinces, 
&c., to say nothing of Rhubarb, and of Dahlias, 
Double Petunias, Camellias, Roses, Verbenas, 
Geraniums, Fuchsias, Chrysanthemums, and 
various other flowers, of which the true kinds are 
only propagated horn cuttings, suckers, roots, 
buds, or grafts. 
Now, though all the above named and others, 
may be grown from seed, and indeed are so grown, 
to produce new varieties, yet they all sport, that 
is, the seed from a single specimen of any variety 
of the above plants or trees, whether good or bad, 
is quite apt to produce half a dozen or more 
varieties, generally all different from the parent, 
and usually inferior to it. 
Suppose a hundred seeds from the same apple 
tree, be planted and grown into a hundred trees ; 
it is quite likely that the fruit on no one of the 
new trees will resemble that of the parent stock. 
One or more may chance to be superior. In this 
case, an improved variety is obtained which is 
afterwards propagated by grafting or budding. 
The other fruits, the berry plants, &c., which we 
have named, follow the same rule. 
Persons often devote iheir whole lives to ex¬ 
periments upon seeds, in an effort to obtain a new 
valuable variety, and they often feel rewarded if 
only one in many thousands of experiments prove 
successful. We know a gentleman who has been 
planting strawberry seeds, for fifteen or twenty 
years, but while he has grown thousands of va¬ 
rieties only to throw them away, when the fruit 
is seen, he has not chanced to obtain more than 
one or two kinds which he deems sufficiently 
valuable to continue their propagation by runners 
or roots- 
Try the Winter Cherry. 
We were so highly pleased with this plant last 
year, that we are quite anxious to have it tried 
by our readers, and we have therefore saved and 
obtained from others near half a million of seeds, 
which we have put into small parcels of about 150 
seeds each in order to have them go as far as pos¬ 
sible. If one-fifth part of these grow they will 
furnish quite a supply of plants for the present 
year’s use and especially for future seed. 
The growth and habits of the plant is similar 
to that of the common tomato, and hence it has 
been called the “ Strawberry tomato.” The ripe 
seed balls make a most beautiful sauce and pre¬ 
serve, and a syrup so much like honey that our 
correspondent, N. Goodsell, recommended it as 
a substitute for honey. (See Vol. XVI, page 35). 
We for one feel quite obliged to Mr. G. for call¬ 
ing our attention to it, and such of our readers as 
are led to cultivate and use it successfully will 
doubtless feel obliged to him also. 
The seeds may be sown in the open ground the 
latter part of April or early in May, in this lati¬ 
tude—earlier at the South—and afterwards thin or 
transplant to about 2^ or 3 feet apart. It may be 
well, in order to secure early fruit, to start a few 
in the house or in a hot-bed the same as cabbage 
or tomato plants, and put out at the proper sea¬ 
son. We shall in due time refer to the use of the 
fruit. Our seed will be sent to all subscribers ap¬ 
plying, until the supply runs short. Wm. B. Men¬ 
denhall, of Delaware Co., O., inquires concerning 
the “ Hull Tomatoes.” They are the same as the 
above described Winter Cherry (Physalis viscosa). 
European variety —Physalis alkckcngi. 
This is similar to the common American varie¬ 
ty (Physalis viscosa ), but differs from it in having 
a heavier and more upright stalk, with larger and 
more acid fruit. It requires a longer time to ma- 
ture, and at the North, requires starting in the 
Green-House or hot-bed. South of say latitude 
38° it will probably ripen if planted at first in the 
open ground. Where it will mature, it mav b* 
quite as valuable as the American variety. We 
have a few thousand seeds of our own growth, 
which we shall be happy to distribute in small par¬ 
cels to subscribers, desiring to try it. 
-«*-.---KK»ns—-- 
Abutilon— striatum. 
We present above an illustration engraved from 
a beautiful pencil sketch kindly contributed by 
Lucy A. Matson of Thetford, Vt., for which she 
will please accept our thanks. The AhutHons 
are among the most pleasing plants grown in the 
house or under glass protection. In this latitude 
they will thrive well in the open air until the ap¬ 
pearance of frosty weather. They are especially 
adapted to parlor or house culture in pots, as 
they endure changes of temperature remarkably 
well, not being injured by any cold short of 
actual frost, and they are little affected by a hot, 
dry atmosphere, but seem rather to delight in it. 
They arc propagated by cuttings which strike 
readily, and will begin to bloom almost as soon as 
well rooted ; and, what adds particularly to their 
attractiveness, they will continue in flower the 
entire year if kept waim. The habit of the plant is 
bushy, but may be shaped by pinching the ends 
of the leading shoois. In two or three years it 
may be grown to the liight of 10 or 12 feet if de¬ 
sired, or it may be kept down to a convenient 
size for a room or conservatory. If grown in 
pots the soil should be a strong unmanured loam, 
to save the necessity of frequent changing. They 
are now so common as to be readily obtained at 
most commercial Green-Houses at a small price, 
say 25 cents to $1 according to size, &c. 
Varieties .—There are a dozen or more varieties 
of the Ahutilon. The one shown in the engraving 
is the most common, but by no means the 
least beautiful. Its flowers are Orange, veined 
with crimson. There are some newer sorts hav¬ 
ing larger flowers, which are of different colors. 
The Ahutilon insigne has flowers almost black. 
The Ahutilon alba yields a pure white bloom. The 
Ahutilon venosa has a larger flower than any other 
variety, but is coarse and straggling in habit. 
The two varieties now most esteemed are Van 
Houttcii and lnsignc. 
Hook was walking with a friend, when they 
came to a toll-bridge. Tho friend asked if Hook 
knew who built the bridge. 
“ No,” replied Hook, “ but if you go over you 
will be tolled ’ 
