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stamina being then p artly transformed into small, I'oundish, spatulate,
striped red petals, all o f which, as well as th e large outer ones, are p retty
evenly aiTanged over one another, and distinctly marked with dark-
coloured veins. The usual colour of the flowers is a deep red, approaching
to scarlet. The largest of them scarcely measures more than three
inches in diameter.
[ 41 ]
PROPAGATION AND CULTURE, &c.
O n this subject much useful information will be found in the third
volume of the Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, where
there is an excellent practical paper, by a distinguished cultivator of
Camellias, Mr. Wa lter Henderson, F.H.S. gardener to Walter Campbell,
Esq. M.P. Woodhall, Lanarkshire. The works of Curtis, Sweet,
Macintosh, and Loudon, also contain much interesting matter connected
with the culture and treatment of Camellias. From these we
shall gather what is most important for our present purpose, and add
such remarks as have occurred to us in the course of our own practice.
SOIL.
The soil which we consider best for Camellias, and iu which they are
grown by those who cultivate them extensively in the neighbourhoo<l
of London, is a strong, rich, yellow loam. I f it is supposed to be too
retentive of moisture, a portion of peat, or bog-earth, and sand, is generally
mixed with it; and in this compost the plants grow vigorously.
Curtis recommends about one th ird good bog-earth, and two thirds ricli
sandy loam; when there is a larger proportion of the former than of
the la tte r in the compost, he says, the plants will make greater shoots,
blit are shyer in producing blossom.
Henderson’s compost is as follows, v iz.—One p a rt of light brown
mould, one part of river sand, one p a rt of peat earth, one half part
rotted leaves; mix them all well together; and when the Camellias
require shifting, p u t some broken coaUchar in the bottom of the pots,
and some d ry moss, or hypnum, over it. instead of the coal-char being