21 MARCH 1947, Page 17

In My Garden

Since some doubts are felt by gardeners as to the hardiness of that most lovely shrub the camellia, I make no apology for giving further details from a successful cultivator. The variety (or species?) Saluensis has only six petals, which combine more agreeably than in the tighter and more vulnerable flowers of other sorts. It rather resembles apple blossom. It does not like lime. On an E.S.E. wall, three winters have not damaged it, though at one time there were 19 degrees of frost. It is not one of the many shrub victims (which include the evergreen types of ceanothus) of this year's tyranny. The saddest looking bush in any garden is a Viburnum Rhytidophyllum. W. BEACH THOMAS.