64 ON THE CULTURE OF THE CAMELLIA. 



thein in uniting. They are fitted together in the usual manner, 

 and fastened with fresh matting, which is wound round the stock 

 from about an inch below the union, and carried up about an inch 

 above. No clay, but only a little fine moss is used to envelope 

 the part operated upon and afterwards kept moist. The leading 

 shoot of the stock should not now be shortened, but left till some- 

 time after the union is ascertained to be complete, it should then 

 be headed down to about two inches above the union, the remain- 

 ing part to be removed some time after. When the scion has 

 pushed its full length, and is beginning to ripen its wood, it should 

 then be cut nearly half through, and in a fortnight more cut a 

 little deeper, and in eight or ten days more cut entirely away from 

 the parent plant. 



Grafting. — The two following methods I consider to be the 

 best : — Where scions can be had of a proper length, that is from 

 four to six inches, prepare the scion at any convenient length 

 from the bottom, in the same way as for inarching the stock in 

 like manner. The lower portion of the scion is thrust into a small 

 potatoe or turnip, or a phial or a cup, kept full of water, or into 

 the soil near the bottom of the stock; or where scions cannot be 

 had of a convenient length, that mode of grafting termed side graft- 

 ing is preferred as next best. After fitting and fastening together 

 with fresli matting, and clayed or mossed, they are placed in a gentle 

 hot-bed frame or bark pit, and kept regularly shaded : little or 

 110 air should be given till the grafts have pushed an inch or 

 two. The time before a union of the scion and stock takes place 

 is various in different sorts, and more especially in regard to tho 

 state of health in which the plants may be. Observation alone can 

 dictate when the clay, and afterwards the bandage of matting, 

 should be removed ; there is an evil in allowing either to remain 

 on too long, as well as taking them off too soon. 



Budding. — This is done in the usual manner of budding other 

 plants ; after budding they are treated in the same way as grafts. 



Repotting the Plants. — This should be done just before 

 the plants are placed into heat to make their young wood and 

 flower buds. The size of the shift must entirely depend on the 

 state of the roots, some of which will require larger than others. 

 When the roots are in a good healthy condition, for small plants, 

 one inch clear all round the ball will be sufficient ; and for large 



