The old white camellia, the fimbriata, Lady Hume's, and imbricata, are well known to be the finest-shaped flowers in this genus, which is now composed of nearly 400 varieties and species. Of all the new varieties, Mr. Beaton thinks the imbricata alba is the most perfect flower; he even says that it is often more perfect than the double white, with occasional broad stripes of red in some of the petals, like a fine carnation. The King is a variety much praised lately; it is in the shape of pï¾µoniï¾µflora alba, and mottled like Gray's Invincible; and, in the opinion of Mr. Beaton, only a third-rate flower. Triumphans is a noble flower, bursting out in the centre like the old cabbage rose, and something near the same colour, with pure white blotches. This variety, like Woodsii and a few others, requires more heat to expand its blossoms than is usually safe for the others; and it ought to be kept in the warmest end of the house. Donklaeri and tricolor are great favourites here: several plants of each of them are now finely in bloom, with many others of the newer sorts. The corrï¾µas, which are great favourites with Mr. Harris, are in bloom from September to June, by being forced at different times to make their young growth in the same way as the camellias; and the Chinese azaleas are just ready to expand their flowers under similar treatment.
