35S THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



portion of charcoal, all mixed together. Then we emptied out the 

 i3orders to a depth of three feet ; rubble was then put in for drain- 

 age, and a quantity of rather large charcoal — nearly a foot of it 

 between bricks and compost. Over that was put tough rooty grass 

 turves — grass-side downwards of course. We determined the 

 arrangement of planting beforehand, as the plants were large and 

 very valuable, and if arranged in an unsatisfactory manner, as re- 

 gards colour or anything else, much trouble would eventually result. 

 Turning out was commenced at one end, by placing under each plant 

 the requisite quantity of soil to bring its collar to a height of eight 

 or nine inches above the stone curb of the walk, which runs all round, 

 in order to allow for the settling down of the soil. As the plants 

 were turned out and arranged, all hands were employed wheeling in 

 soil, and fining it down to a proper consistency, till the whole was 

 filled np and the central bed finished off. Then we tied the plants 

 to trellises on the back wall, and drove in stakes in the bed, to bring 

 the large specimens as near as possible to the shape we designed 

 them, and the spaces we wanted to fill- All this done, the engine 

 was set to work, and the plants genially washed down for weeks. 

 That was in early spring. " They flowered well. In the middle of 

 April we removed all buds and remnants of buds, did a little cutting 

 in, and gave the house a little gentle heat from through-pipes, which 

 we can heat at pleasure from a boiler that heats other houses. 

 These pipes are under the footpath, and are covered with very neat 

 iron gratings. Portland stone we use for the curbs, etc., and it looks 

 very nice, and is highly suitable for such work. The growth of the 

 camellias in this, during the first summer, was something marvellous; 

 they grew like wallows, and without being in the least drawn or 

 lanky, from the abundance of air we gave, and from the full clear 

 light aff'orded by our span-roofed house. For many years we have 

 had little further work with this house, and it has afiorded a peren- 

 nial source of satisfaction, providing as it does a very enjoyable 

 promenade all through the winter and spring, when for months it is 

 rendered paradisiacal by thousands of variously-coloured blooms. 



The plants make their annual growth under the conditions 

 described. When growth is completed and the buds formed, rest 

 is allowed for shutting ofl* the heat, and throwing open the sashes 

 and doers, night and day. When the buds become plump, and too 

 thick, we commence thinning. In July, and from that time to De- 

 cember, much thinning has to be done. We adopt the following 

 method with great success : In the middle of April all bloom and 

 buds are pulled off, and all the trellis plants are unfastened ; the 

 whole of the specimens are pruned, cut in, and regulated to our 

 fancy. Occasionally an old fellow showing any tendency to scraggi- 

 ness or exhaustion is cut in " to the bone," and soon he breaks out 

 again with a host of young and energetic shoots, that form a dark 

 and glossy head by the end of summer. Fresh compost is here and 

 there forked in ; good soakings of clear manure-water are given ; the 

 whole of the plants are thoroughly washed down with a powerful 

 engine ; heat is turned on, and the washing of the plants is con- 

 tinued morning and evening for about six weeks. The house is shut 



