ALEXINA CAMELLIA. 



dispensed with entirely, merely observing in the case of sunny after- 

 noons to make free use of sun-heat, by shutting up the house early 

 in the afternoon, say from three to four o'clock, according to the 

 weather. Air must be given freely at all opportunities, and the plants 

 syringed heavily at seven o'clock in the morning, and again at four 

 o'clock in the afternoon, saturating the floors and flues, or pipes, with 

 water in the evening. The plants must be well watered at the root 

 whenever they require it, using licpiid manure from old dung, in the 

 proportion of one part liquid manure to four of clean water. The 

 plants now possess abundance of new fibres, and their powerful action, 

 assisted by liquid manure occasionally, produces both a plump bud 

 and a dark leaf, and enables the plant to store up abundance of 

 necessary food for the expanding blossoms. 



At the respective periods of growth and flowering, the plants will 

 require plentiful watering ; during the latter, if not regularly sup- 

 plied, the bloom-buds will infallibly fall off, instead of expanding 

 into flower ; at other times, a regular 'moderate supply is essential. 

 The effect of constant watering may be presumed to diminish or 

 destroy the fertility of the small quantity of earth allotted to each 

 plant ; therefore, when the annual repotting occurs, carefully take 

 away as much of the former ball of earth as can be done without 

 injuring or cutting the roots. 



The plant may be considered strictly a hardy greenhouse one, 

 similar to the Myrtle, only requiring protection in severe weather; 

 and if it is kept just above freezing point, a temperate heat, it will 

 succeed much better than if grown in a high temperature. At the 

 period of making their growth, an additional degree of heat will be 

 found advantageous. 



Camellias are readily increased by budding, inarching, or grafting. 

 Cuttings of the single red strike the readiest, taking them off in July 

 or August, that is, when the young shoots are sufficiently ripened at 

 the base. Each must be smoothly cut through at a joint, that is, 

 where it has last pushed from, be divested of one or two leaves, and 

 then firmly planted around the pot, having the lower half of compost, 

 and the upper half of white sand. Being well watered, and the pots 

 plunged in a frame of moist peat, and closely shaded for several 

 weeks, they will form callosities or fibrous roots, and, as soon as they 

 can with safety be removed, they must be potted singly, in small pots, 



