THE FLORAL WORLD 



AND 



GARDEN GUIDE. 



DECEMBKR, 1868. 

 ]S"OTES ON CAMELLIAS. 



WITH FiaUEE OF CAMELLIA MATTEO MOLFINO. 



KE beautiful Camellia figured in this month's number 

 suggests a capital opportunity for offering a few sugges- 

 tions upon the culture of this valuable family. Camellias 

 are now so universally grown that at first sight it may 

 appear superfluous to say anything about their manao-e- 

 ment ; but the many failures in growing them satisfactorily which we 

 see and hear of, remind us that such is not the case. We therefore think 

 that the space occupied in our remarks on this subject will not be 

 wasted. We shall pass over the subject of propagation, for young plants 

 can be purchased at the nurseries at a, much cheaper rate than they 

 could be raised by the private grower ; besides, few private cultiva- 

 tors have the proper convenience, or tlie requisite skill, for grafcin"" 

 hard-wooded plants. We will therefore limit our observations to a 

 brief sketch of the after management, and the consideration of a few 

 of the principal caui^es of failure. One of the most frequent errors 

 of amateurs is inattention to the drainage of the pots ; the crocks not 

 being so arranged as to carry away quickly the water applied to the 

 roots. Another consists in potting the plants in unsuitable soil. 

 The third on the list may be summarized as badly-managed water- 

 ings, sometimes giving them too much, and at other times allowino- 

 the plants to sufier for want of that important element. To grow 

 these plants properly they require liberal supplies of water at the 

 roots, more particularly when in full growth. jSTow, if the drainao-e 

 of the pots is not sufficient, or is choked up with soil, the water 

 lodges in the ball of s(>il, turns it into a pasty sour condition, and the 

 roots perish in consequence. Allowing long intervals to elapse be- 

 tween the waterings, when the drainage is bad, will spread the de- 

 struction of the roots over a longer period, but it will be none the 

 less sure. All the p<«ts above six inches in diameter ought to have 

 not less than two inches of medium-sized crocks in "the bottom, 

 placed regularly, and covered with "flaky" leaf-mould, or lumpy 



VOL. III. — NO. XII. 23 



