Plate 105. 
CAMELLIA, CONTESSA LAVINIA MAGGI. 
Camellia japonica , var. 
If considerable disappointment were experienced, that at the 
Spring Exhibitions of this year, so few plants of Camellia com¬ 
paratively speaking, were brought forward for competition, the 
same feeling could not have existed with regard to the varieties 
shown. The exquisite form of Sarah Frost (an Americeui va¬ 
riety), the snowy whiteness of the Duchesse de Bern , and the 
regular markings of the variety we now figure, were the admi¬ 
ration of all who had the good fortune to see them. 
The Royal Horticultural Society, anxious to see a better dis¬ 
play of this universal favourite, has offered a very liberal prize 
to be competed for at their Spring Exhibition next season, which 
will not be confined to amateurs, but open to all. We may 
then expect to see such a display of Camellias as the London 
world has never before had an opportunity of witnessing. Al¬ 
ready we have heard the note of preparation on many sides, 
and doubtless many of the newer varieties will be shown in a 
better condition than they have hitherto been. 
Contessa Lavinia Maggi was exhibited by both Mr. John 
Standish, of Bagshot, and Messrs. Yeitch and Son, of Exeter 
and Chelsea. The latter firm showed it at the exhibition on 
the 19th of March, when it was awarded a first-class certificate 
from the Floral Sub-Committee. Our figure was taken from 
the plant exhibited by Mr. Standish, who very obligingly lent 
it to our artist for that purpose. It is a very fine variety, of 
vigorous habit; the colour a blush-white, regularly marked 
with bright carmine stripes; the form is very good, the petals 
being regularly imbricated, and the flower-wells filled up to 
the centre. The markings seemed to us also to be more con¬ 
stant than is the case with many of the varieties hitherto 
