34 THE FLORIST. 



belonged to ; but be sbrunk, I suppose, from being under the con- 

 trol of one he had domineered over in former days. He did not 

 keep his appointment to meet me in the dry dock where my ship 

 hiy repairing, and I have never met with him since. 



CAMELLIA SEED. 



The first indication of seed being set is the flower being thrust off, 

 as it were, by an enlargement of the seed-vessel, which, if healthy, 

 is of a deep green colour, round and glossy. It swells ratlier rapidly 

 till it has attained the size of a small crab-apple. As the seed 

 approaches maturity, which is generally in five or six months, it 

 assumes a dull red colour, and ultimately partially divides in two 

 equal parts ; this indicates ripeness in the seed and time of gather- 

 ing. When the case or shell is separated at the time of planting, 

 which should be in February, one, two, three, or more cells will be 

 found, each containing a seed of an egg shape, and about the size of 

 a small horse-bean. Sometimes as many as eight or ten cells will 

 exist, in which case the seed is usually compressed a good deal, and 

 forced into all sorts of indescribable forms. This, however, will not 

 aff'ect its vitality. 



Plant each seed separately in a thum-pot about one inch deep in 

 a light open loamy soil ; cover with a suitable glass, and shade from 

 the direct rays of the sun. A moderate bottom-heat will facilitate 

 germination, which, under favourable circumstances, will take place 

 in about eight or ten weeks. The plants may then be gradually ex- 

 posed, and shifted into larger pots as soon as the roots appear. 



IVhitehill, Newton Abbott. W. H. Story. 



PANSIES IN POTS. 



The time has now arrived for shifting the plants into the pots they 

 are intended to bloom in ; and as the Horticultural Society has 

 ofi'ered prizes for the best twelve in 8-inch pots, no doubt more than 

 usual interest will be taken in the Pansy this spring : the 3d of May 

 will soon be here, and there is no time to be lost. 



Growing them in pots is also by far the best method for obtaining 

 early bloom, if cut flowers only are required ; in this case, pots one 

 size less will be sufficient to grow them in, and the pit or frame will 

 hold more plants, — no small advantage. 



Those that intend exhibiting plants must be careful in potting, 

 as from the large size of the pots, more drainage will be required, 

 combined with rather light and fibrous soil. They should not be 

 pressed very hard when potting ; and another important point will 

 l3e to select plants that have at least five leading shoots, if more, the 

 better, provided they are tolerably equal in length, as the small 

 shoots usually growing in the centre of the plant will not flower in 



