PREFACE. 
TLhe First Volume of this Work is now respectfully submitted to the 
Public. It contains illustrations of five species of Camellia, sixteen 
varieties of Camellia Japonica, which have been imported from China, 
and nineteen selected from those which have been raised from seed in 
this country; accompanied by a minute description of each, and a 
history, as far as we could ascertain, of their introduction and origin; 
all of which, we trust, will be found satisfactory and correct. 
In addition to the above, we have endeavoured to redeem our pro¬ 
mise at folio 6, by giving, at the end of the volume, a succinct account 
of the fittest compost for Camellias, and of the most approved methods 
for their propagation and treatment. This, it is hoped, will make the 
volume complete in itself, and, at the same time, render it independent 
of the second one; the publication of which, from several unforeseen 
events, we are reluctantly obliged to postpone for the present. We 
cannot, however, allow the present opportunity to pass, without 
