46 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



counties. Planted in a good border, and slightly protected in ^vinter, it 

 becomes a magnificent object; the border should be deep, and consist of 

 chiefly rotted tui-f and dung. During %Adnter the best protection is a mat 

 well stutfed with straw. To insure a fine bloom and a free growth, the 

 plant should be watered from the end of April to the end of August 

 abundantly ; it in fact can scarcely matter how much water is given. A 

 writer in the "English Cyclopa:;dia" says he has known it receive as 

 much as 100 gallons daily with visible benefit. 



CULTURE OF THE CAMELLIA. 



In the paper on Camellia Culture, which we published in the Januaiy 

 number, we gave directions for the management of the plants in their 

 various stages Of growth to bloom to an extent commensurate with the 

 wants of the majority of amateur cultivators. "\Ve have now a few 

 remarks to offer on the modes of propagation usually resorted to in nursery 

 and private practice. 



Camellias thom Cuttings. — This mode of propagating is not recom- 

 mended, for camellias grafted or inarched on seedling stocks are preferable 

 to plants on their own roots. The best time to take cuttings is when the 

 young shoots of the season are just getting ripe. Then cut off the young 

 shoots at the fourth joint from the top, that is, to have cuttings four joints 

 long. With a sharp knife trim away the wood of the internode by a 

 horizontal cut close below the lowest joint, and from that and the next 

 joint above remove the leaves. Fill some large shallow pans with silver- 

 sand, and dibble in the cuttings prettj^ close together all over, and place 

 over them a bell-glass. They should be kept just damp enough to preserve 

 them in a fresh state ; if at any time very wet, the cuttings will perish, 

 and so long as moisture condenses on the glass, the sand may be allowed to 

 get nearly dry before it will be needful to give water again. Let them 

 have air every day for a few minutes, during which time the glass can be 

 dried. If there is any probability of the sun shining on them, cover the 

 bell-glass with paper, or smear it all over outside with a thin wash of 

 clay and water. For at least four weeks they should be kept thus in a 

 cool place, and with very little moisture. They will by that time have 

 formed the necessary " callus," and may be removed to a mild hot-bed, 

 where they will have a bottom-heat of about 65% or from 60' to 70 ' 

 and not more. They will require more moisture now, and frequent dewing 

 of the leaves, but care must be taken not to rot them hj excess of moisture. 

 When rooted, put them off in pure peat, with a fifth part of silver-sand 

 added, and shut up warm till they have made a good start, then lower the 

 temperature and give air, and as soon as hardened treat as old plants. 



Seedlings. — Camellia seeds are now sold at a low price, and all the 

 leading seedsmen supply seed of named varieties as well as seeds of 

 common single camellias for stocks. It is very seldom, however, that 

 good seedlings are raised in this country; most of those sent out as English 

 seedlings are in reality raised on the Continent, and sent here to be named 

 and sold. However, the dealers offer seeds guaranteed to produce a fair 

 proportion of double flowers, and the amateur who chooses to make a 

 ventui'e in raising seedlings may turn his labour to account even if, when 

 the plants flower, none of them are worth perpetuating. The seedlings 



