THE FLOKAL WOKLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 359 



up early and when full of vapour, and then, treated like the contents 

 of a hothouse, the growth of our camellias is rapid and strong. 

 When they are fairly started into growth, manure-water is given at 

 the roots, and plenty of gentle but thorough syringing. xVfter live 

 or six weeks' growth, the plants are like trees in a wood, meeting 

 over the walks in the fulness of their exuberance. "When forming 

 their buds, air is given in plenty, and the syringing and waterings 

 somewhat restricted. Bud-thinning is carried on through the 

 autumn. I don't care for more than one good bloom at the end of 

 each shoot. In September, the plants are again looked over, and 

 tidied up here and there, the house made as neat as possible, and a 

 good washing down given the plants on fine days, tsoon after the 

 earliest flower-buds begin to open, and from that time onwards we 

 have a gradually increasing bloom, till the whole house bursts forth 

 in beauty in the spring. jSTo syringing is given all the blooming 

 time, but pleiitij of water at the root. So much for camellias planted 

 out indoors — the most satisfactory way of growing them where the 

 space can be afforded. 



VEGETABLE EOECINa. 



BY ME. WILLIA:-! COLE, 



Head Gardener, Ealing Park, Ealing. 



{Continued from loage 327.) 



ASPAEAGUS, SEAKALE, A:S"D EHUBAEB. 



NEXPEEIENCED and shallow-thinking people run away 

 with the idea that a good house of grapes, or a few speci- 

 men plants, is the best proof that can be had of a 

 gardener's abilities, and think but little about the mul- 

 titude of other matters which necessarily engage his 

 attention. I am of quite an opposite opinion upon these matters, and 

 think that a good and regular supply of vegetables, at all times and 

 seasons, to be as good a test of a man's claim to rank as a first-class 

 gardener, as the best house of grapes or peaches that could be had. 

 I have long been convinced of this, and have looked upon vegetable 

 growing as one of my most important duties ; more especially those 

 which are grown under artificial conditions ; but I regret that few 

 young men hold the opinion 1 do upon this point. In making these 

 observations, it must not be supposed that I am inditferent to fruit 

 and plant growing, as can be easily seen by any one inclined to pay 

 me a visit at Ealing Park. I hardly know which out of the three 

 subjects I have now in hand I ought to give precedence to, for tbey 

 are all important to a well-kept table. Suppose we begin with the — 

 Aspaeagus. — The success attendant upon forcing this delicious 

 vegetable, is just in proportion to the strength of the roots which are 

 to be subjected to the forcing process ; for if the roots are small and 



