liaving the centre filled with stamina p artly perfect, and partly transformed
into small, narrow, often deeply divided petals. The parts
of each o f the petals which are red, are faintly marked with darker
coloured veins, and when touched by cold, or the flower begins to
fade, the edges become slightly tinged with purple.
In some Collections, a vaidety is supposed to exist of this kind,
with blotched or variegated leaves, as well as flowers; b u t this character
is by no means a permanent one, and generally arises from the plant
being in an unhealthy state, occasioned by bad soil, or improper
treatment.
To flower this variety well, it is usual with some cultivatoi*s to
place the plants in a warm p a rt of the gi’eenhouse, or even the stove,
in spring, so as to forward their growth, and make their flowers open in
the autumn. Where this is done, they are seen to far more advantage
than where they are allowed to remain, to open at the same time with
th e other Camellias. We shall, however, return to this subject, and
enter more fully upon it hereafter; as well as upon other points connected
with the proper treatment, and the soil best adapted for the
culture of this very ornamental tribe of plants.