50 
THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
presented all the marks of old age; but it was a stunted deformed bush, 
from having been used for many years as a stool for raising young plants 
from. Mr. Gordon also procured plants of the variegated double red, 
and the double white, all of which were in existence, but in the same 
condition in 1832. The date generally assigned to the introduction of 
these plants is 1792 ; but this is evidently a mistake, as there is not only 
evidence to show that they were in the possession of Mr. Gordon, who 
died in 1780, but they are included in Archibald’s Plant Catalogue, 
published in 1791, without any mark of their being new. For many 
years after its introduction, the Camellia appears to have been sold at a 
very high price, as in the first volume of the Botanical Magazine, pub¬ 
lished in 1787, where the single red was first figured (t. 42), it is observed 
that it may probably prove as hardy as the Magnolia or Laurustinus, 
but that “ the high price at which it has hitherto been sold may have 
prevented its being hazarded in this way.” 
Several other varieties of Camellia have been imported from China, 
and above a thousand others have been originated in Europe. Besides 
these, there are numerous other species now common in gardens. The 
handsomest is C. reticulata , a most splendid plant, with flowers as large 
as those of a Peony; it is of very vigorous growth, and appears to be 
more hardy than the common species. C. maliflora is a beautiful plant 
with small double flowers, like those of the Apple; and C. Sasanqua has 
small single white flowers. There are several other species, but these 
are the most common. 
Botanically, the Camellia is most nearly allied to the common Tea 
(Thea Bohea). The only differences are that the stamens in the Camellias 
grow together at the base, while in the Tea they are distinct, and that the 
capsules are somewhat different. The flowers of the Tea are white and 
small, resembling those of C. Sasanqua , and the leaves are thinner. 
Linnaeus named the plant in honour of the Jesuit Kamel, who first 
brought it to England, and whose name when Latinized becomes 
Camellius. 
The culture of the Camellia is not difficult: the principal things to be 
attended to are growing it in light soil, giving it plenty of water and air, 
and shading it from the sun. It is very nearly hardy; and when planted 
in the open air, it only requires to have its roots protected by straw laid 
on the ground round the trunks for two or three years, till the plants 
have become established. Some plants in the Mile End Nursery were 
above twelve feet high; and others at Chandler’s against a wall have 
stood out since 1827. At Bicton, near Exeter, there is a bush above 
ten feet high, which has stood out nearly twenty years; and in the 
