ON THE CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CAMELLIA. 265 



merits. Stocks, however, are, for the most part, obtained by nur- 

 serymen from layers of the common single red, which they have often 

 planted out in pits for this purpose, or from plants originated from 

 cuttings of the same or equally common sorts. Camellias are some- 

 times budded, but for the most part are either grafted or inarched, 

 and in either case the process of tongueing is dispensed with as 

 weakening the stock ; and that mode of grafting termed side-grafting 

 is preferred. It may be observed, that of all the stocks, for this or any 

 other purpose, those obtained from seeds are the best. 



As to the proper season for grafting or inarching camellias, the 

 spring is the best, and just at that time when the plants have done 

 flowering and are beginning to grow. This state of vegetation does 

 not always take place at precisely the same time, as some cultivators 

 force their camellias into bloom very early ; such, therefore, should 

 be operated upon not by the exact period of the year, but by the state 

 of the plants. Some will be fit for this process in January, February, 

 March, and April : those, however, which are operated on in March 

 and April will have the better chance to succeed, although those 

 which are operated on in February answer pretty well. 



Giiafting. — Side-grafting (as before mentioned) resembles whip 

 or tongue-grafting, but differs in being performed on the side of the 

 stock without being beaded down. Having fixed on those branches 

 where shoots are wanted to furnish the head or any part of the plant, 

 then slope off the bark and a little of the wood, and cut the lower 

 ends of the scions to fit the part as near as possible ; then pin them 

 to the branch, and secure them with bass, and clay them over as any 

 other sort of grafting. 



Inarching, ok Grafting by Approach. — Perform this any time 

 from the beginning of February to the end of March ; fix the pot 

 containing the stock securely, then cut with a sharp knife a thin piece 

 from the side, about two inches long ; make a small notch down- 

 wards, at the top of this, then prepare the branch to be inarched 

 after the same manner, but make the slit upwards. Fit the tongue 

 of this branch into the notch of the stock, join the rind of one to that 

 of the other, tie them well together with matting, rub on a little clay 

 to keep out the air, and they will be united in a month or six weeks ; 

 when joined, loosen the bandages, but do not remove the in until some 

 time after the scions arc separated from the parent plant. 



