FLOWERING SHRUBS IN POTS 5 1 



plants which are usually seen in greenhouses are all varieties 

 of C. jap07iica. The flowers are a little stiff, for which 

 reason camellias are not as popular as they once were ; but 

 they are very beautiful, and have a wonderful range of colour, 

 while their evergreen foliage makes them effective throughout 

 the year. They require a great deal of water, especially 

 when in flower. If allowed to get dry, then they are sure to 

 drop their buds. If a fertiliser is given to them, it should 

 be very weak ; they are better without any so long as they 

 make satisfactory growth. They should not be repotted 

 until it is absolutely necessary, as disturbance is liable to 

 interfere with tl^eir flowering. In summer they should be 

 frequently syringed, and at all times the leaves must be kept 

 clean. In an excessively dry atmosphere they are liable to 

 be attacked by red spider. Other pests are scale and mealy 

 bug, which should be brushed off with an insecticide. 

 Blotched leaves are sometimes caused by a fungoid disease, 

 and should be taken off and burned. For black mould on 

 the foliage the plants should be syringed with paraffin 

 emulsion every few days until it is quite gone. Camellias 

 can be propagated by means of cuttings of the current year's 

 shoots taken off in August, and inserted in sandy soil in a 

 shaded frame or greenhouse ; but except for this purpose they 

 should not be pruned. 



Chrysanthemum (Japanese). — Cuttings of shoots from 

 the base of old plants should be inserted in sandy soil in 

 December or January. A greenhouse is the safest place for 

 them. If they are in an unheated house they should be put 

 in a box covered with glass ; if in a cold frame, the light 

 should be matted over as a protection against frost. When 

 the cuttings are rooted they should be potted separately, and 

 afterwards should be kept growing, being moved into larger 

 pots when the roots require more space. The soil should be 

 rich, porous, and firm. Up to the end of June the points of 

 the shoots should be pinched off occasionally. During the 

 summer the plants should be in the open air in a position 

 shaded from the midday sun. They need a great deal of 

 water — two or three times a day in hot weather — and when 



