1874 . ] 
CAMELLIA THOMAS MOORE. 
205 
F. Opulus^ reputed garden varieties, or “ sports,” namely, the sterile “ snow¬ 
ball ” variety, a dwarf form named V. 0. nana, and one with variegated foliage, 
V. 0. foliis variegatis. 
The true Guelder Eose, or Rose de Gueldres, with us commonly called Snowball- 
tree, is a sterile-flowered variety, the blossom-heads of which form large globular- 
shaped masses of white florets, and contrast strongly with the flattened heads of the 
t 3 ’’pe form of the species. V. Opulus must not be confounded with a commoner 
native species, known generally as the Way faring-tree, F. Lantana, whose leaves 
are white on the under-side, and which has no such showy blossoms as F. Opulus. 
The poet Oowper refers to the sterile form as,— 
“ Throwing up into the darkest gloom 
Of neighbouring cypress, or more sable yew, 
Her silver globes, light as the foamy surf 
and few persons can behold a tree laden heavily with these quaint huge white 
globes of inflorescence, without being struck with a feeling of admiration. 
The Messrs. Veitch and Son have lately exhibited upon two different occasions 
a Chinese species, with peculiarly crimped ovate leaves, V. plicaium.^ the heads of 
blooms upon which are of even a purer white than those of our common Guelder 
Rose, whilst the individual florets or petaloid formations are much larger, making 
up a plant altogether superior to our own older favourite. [Another Chinese 
ovate-leaved species, F. macrocephaluin.^ produces a similar snowball-like inflor¬ 
escence, but larger (often eight inches across) and more pyramidal in outline; 
this is of an equally ornamental character.] 
The growth of the Guelder Rose varies very considerably in different counties 
and situations. Here, in Essex, it does better than I have ever seen it do before 
in an;^ place ; the blossoms are extremely large and numerous, and finely developed 
upon every part of the growth made during the current season. There can be no 
doubt a moist site suits the more ornamental forms, in the same degree as it does 
the original species,—a fact that should never be lost sight of when planting.— 
William Earley, Valentines. 
CAMELLIA THOMAS MOORE. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
^fjf^OR the opportunity of figuring this fine variety of Camellia, we are indebted 
(lUp to Mr. Williams, of the Victoria Nursery, Upper Holloway, who holds the 
stock. As will be seen by the figure, the foliage is bold, and the flowers 
are large, regularly imbricated with thick, fleshy, evenly-edged petals, 
and of a rich deep showy crimson colour, the deepest of any variety in 
cultivation. These qualities are such as to place it in the front rank amongst 
modem varieties. We have not yet learned the particulars of its origin, 
but these Mr. Williams will, no doubt, make public in due time. Meanwhile 
the variety should be made a note of, as one to be procured as soon as possible. 
-J-T. M. 
