While adverting, however, to the safety and usefulness of placing camellias in the open air in summer, it must not be inferred that this is essential to the successful culture; it is, in fact, far otherwise, as the majority of the finest camellias in the country are planted out in conservatories with immovable roofs.  Many such houses are, however, treated to special semi-tropical treatment as has been described, and are kept as cool and open as possible after the flower-buds are fairly set, so that the cultural and climatic conditions approximate as closely as possible to those here indicated.

Soil and seasons of potting may be described as vexed questions in camellia culture.  As to the first, some affect pure loam, others peat only, yet more a half and half of both, with a liberal proportion of gritty sand, or a little smashed charcoal or bruised bones as porous or feeding agents, or both.  Most growers prefer the mixture, and as good camellias are grown in each of its constituents, it follows without saying that they may also be well grown in various proportions of both.

Under rather than over potting suits the plants best, and the best time is doubtless just before they are about to start into fresh growth, though many good cultivators elect to shift their plants in the late summer or autumn, that is, soon after the growth is finishing, and the flower-buds fairly and fully set for the next season.  From all which it is obvious that the camellia is not only among the most useful and showy, but likewise among the most accommodating of plants.

Under good cultivation it is also one of the cleanest, though when scab gets on it, it is difficult to get rid of it.  Mealy-bugs also occasionally make a hurried visit to camellias when making their growth, as well as aphides.  But the leaves once formed and advanced to semi-maturity are too hard and leathery for such insects, while they will bear scale being rubbed off them with impunity.  But really well-grown camellias, as a rule, are wholly free from insect pests, and their clean, dark, glossy leaves are only of secondary beauty to their brilliant, exquisitely formed, and many sized flowers.—­D.T., The Gardeners’ Chronicle.

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ARISAEMA FIMBRIATUM.

Mast.; sp. nov.

[Illustration:  ARISAEMA FIMBRIATUM:  LEAF, SPATHE, AND FLORAL DETAILS.]

Some few years since we had occasion to figure some very remarkable Himalayan species of this genus, in which the end of the spadix was prolonged into a very long, thread-like appendage thrown over the leaves of the plant or of its neighbors, and ultimately reaching the ground, and thus, it is presumed, affording ants and other insects means of access to the flowers, and consequent fertilization.  These species were grown by Mr. Elwes, and exhibited by him before the Scientific Committee.  The present species is of