NOVEMBER. 329 



namely, into the exhausted ball of earth, whenever they come in contact 

 with the sides of a pot. 



Various opinions are also held as to what season of the year is fittest 

 for repotting Camellias, but this, I think, ought also to range under two 

 heads : the one, with a view to the increase of wood, and the other that 

 of blossoms ; for, be it remembered, the production of wood, and of 

 flowers, are two very different affairs. It is the opinion of some of our 

 most practical men that potting should be performed as soon as they 

 begin to grow ; this is, I think, most applicable to the nurseryman's 

 course of treatment, his object being to obtain luxuriant plants. The 

 best season to repot them, to obtain a profusion of bloom, is, as soon as 

 the young wood is ripe, or nearly so, when the flower buds can be 

 observed. It is a good rule never to set in action a new series of fibres, 

 until the flower buds are actually formed, but if the plants are potted 

 at the period when re-action takes place, an abundance of wood and few 

 flower buds must be expected. If the roots are matted, be particular in 

 leasing them out at the bottom with the hand, and apply the knife as 

 seldom as possible ; it has a great tendency to make them canker and 

 short-lived. After this is completed, the plants may be placed in a 

 north aspect, beside a wall, or they may be placed in a greenhouse, 

 according to the season they are wanted in flower. If placed in a house, 

 a free current of air is indispensable. At all times, attention should be 

 paid to the watering of them properly, more particularly during the 

 swelling of the buds ; likewise in their growing season they ought to be 

 plentifully supplied with that element. 



They should be frequently watered overhead, with a moderately fine 

 syringe, so as to wash away the dust from their leaves, which to all 

 plants is extremely injurious, as by falling on the surface it stops the 

 pores through which they are supposed to breathe, which must conse- 

 quently be highly detrimental to them. 



E. P. 



ROSA DEVONIENSIS IN PARTICULAR, AND OTHER 

 ROSES IN GENERAL. 



Those who have frequented the picture galleries of Italy must have 

 often remarked a very favourite subject of the Italian masters — an 

 unfortunate man tied to a stake, and exhibiting much the same sort of 

 appearance that a target, on some crack archery tete day does, arrows 

 sticking out all over his body, making him look more like the " fretful 

 porcupine," than would be consistent with comfort. Such a St. 

 Sebastian (for that is the name of this poor martyr, and if I recollect 

 aright there is one in the Dulwich Gallery, whose existence perhaps is 

 about as authentic as our own St. George, or many other of the saint- 

 ships, which have emanated from the same mint) it seems floriculturally 

 I am to be. Your correspondent, Mr. Willcocks, takes me to task for a 

 wrong done to that splendid rose " Devoniensis," by giving it a French 

 instead of an English parentage; then comes my friend "Iota," who 

 turns me over completely — philosophizes on my errors, and then calls 



