1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 143 



could possibly be desired. What, then, was the cause of the change ] Certainly 

 not negligence, for there had been no lack of attention. It was indeed at the first 

 a puzzle to the gardener, as well as to his employer ; but the reason of it was 

 shortly discovered. Previous to the winter the hot-water pipes in the house had 

 been coated over with a patent solution, nearly black in colour, that appears to be 

 a good preservative of wood, and into the composition of which creosote enters 

 largely. This compound, however, proved most destructive to plant-life ; for as 

 soon as the water in the pipes was heated, the noxious ingredients contained in 

 the compound were given forth with the most deplorable results. Perhaps the 

 mention of this incident may prove a not unnecessary caution. A. D. 



Thornhill. — "We are unable to say why your double white Camellia drops its 

 buds as you describe. You say you water the border regularly, that the drain- 

 age seems good, and the plant healthy. These conditions, and the temperature 

 you keep the conservatory at, should induce a fine display of bloom. The only 

 suspicion we have is, that as your border is only 1 foot wide, and the hot- water 

 pipes pass near it, the roots, that are no doubt matted against the brick-work, 

 may get very dry at times, even though the general mass of the soil may be all 

 rhiht ; and in this way a check is given to the plant, resulting in the dropping of 

 the flower-buds. You should examine this part of the case, and give more water 

 if required, and syringe overhead till the blooms open. 



Camellia Buds dropping. — In the February number of the ' Gardener' there 

 is, at page 91, advice on Camellia culture. Mine, unfortunately, were potted in 

 a mixture of loam and peat, with the usual results. Hardly has one tree kept 

 its buds. The advice given by Mr Pearson is, " When they require potting (which 

 of course mine do), to get rid of the peat, let it be done immediately they are out 

 of bloom." Would you have the goodness to let me know what I am to do, as 

 my trees will not have any bloom ? H. W., Norwood. 



[We submitted our correspondent's letter to a cultivator on whose opinion we 

 could rely, and he has written as follows : " The plants may now be turned out 

 of the pots, the Boil shaken from the roots, and be repotted in a rich loam, and 

 then plunged in a gentle bottom-heat in a close and moist house where there is 

 not very much top -heat, until they have made their growth; then gradually 

 harden the plants off, and keep them well supplied with water during the sum- 

 mer. I think the buds drop as much from an insufficient supply of moisture as 

 from any other cause." A few days ago we looked into the greenhouse of an 

 amateur cultivator of plants residing in the neighbourhood of London, and saw 

 there some small plants of Camellias having a fine bud at the termination of each 

 shoot. In the house there were Cinerarias, Cyclamens, Primulas, &c, in flower, 

 besides Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, &c. Everything in the house had a peculiarly 

 fresh and healthy appearance ; and this was attributed by our host to the fact, 

 that he gives the house a gentle syringing some three or four times daily, not 

 sparing any of the plants, and a slight heat is kept on at the pipes in dull weather. 

 As a matter of course, in severe weather the syringing is withheld. The theory 

 in regard to Camellia buds dropping held by this gentleman was, that the foliage 

 should be kept frequently moistened, and that a moist atmosphere is essential 

 to the wellbeing of the Camellia. With such constant syringing but little root- 

 watering is required, and then only just enough to moisten the balls — they are not 

 thoroughly saturated with water. — Eds.] 



