132 OK THE CULTURE OF THE CAMELI/IA. 



and peat, Sweet, recommends sandy loam and peat. Henderson 

 Of Woodhall, is one of the most successful growers of the Ca- 

 mellia in Scotland; his compost is as follows, — "take one part of 

 light brown mould 5 one part of river sand, and one half part of 

 rotten leaves ; mix them well together," — (Loudon's "Encyclo- 

 paedia of Plants," London 1829.) For my own part I agree with 

 Mr. Sweet, and use about one-third peat, and two-thirds sandy 

 loam. The peat and loam should be turfy, and ought not to be 

 sifted, but chopped together with a spade, and should be rather 

 eoarse and lumpy ; this will secure a free circulation to the water, 

 and prevent, in some measure, the mischief arising from the mat- 

 ting of the roots. Mr. Sweet, has justly observed, when the 

 mould is sifted, it often bakes as hard as a brick, so that it is im- 

 possible for the roots to get through it, 



The best time for shifting the Camellia, is during the month of 

 February and the beginning of March; and if it be advisable not 

 to give the plant a larger pot, it should, however, be turned out, 

 and a little of the earth taken from the top, bottom, and sides of 

 the ball, then returned, and the pot filled with a little fresh com- 

 post, having first put some broken pot at the bottom. The earth 

 must be removed gently from the ball, with the fingers, not a 

 root taken away, unless it be dead ; no cutting and parting the 

 ball with the pruning-knife. In potting, they must always be 

 well drained. A top-dressing, would be of much benefit to the 

 plants, if given at the time of fixing them in their domicils for the 

 winter. The surface should be stirred with some instrument that 

 will not injure the roots, this will keep the earth light, and pre- 

 vent the moss from collecting. 



A little artificial heat, during the growing season, would make 

 the plants push strong and fine shoots ; and if they are again put 

 into a little heat in the month of November, it will greatly forward 

 the blossoms, and they will expand finer and better than they 

 might otherwise do ; but in no case should the plants be kept in 

 heat, during the flowering season ; if so, the flowers will much 

 ooner drop than they would do in the temperature of the green- 

 house or conservatory, in which they wovdd continue in full 

 beauty for a considerable time. 



The Camellia, like the Orange, but in a much less degree is 

 subject to the scaly bug ; the only effectual remedy, is to pick them 

 off one by one with the nail, and rub the parts affected with a 

 little soft .soap. The green fly will sometimes attack the young 



