712 GARDEN MANAGEMENT, 



2231. "With the above dozen, and half a dozen plants of arboreum, a mag- 

 nificent effect during winter and early spring could be produced. Next to 

 rhododendrons, or even exceeding them in usefulness, is the camellia ; and this 

 is the month above all others when it is most useful. By inducing early growth 

 and early maturity, it will flower now from habit, as well, if not better, than 

 in any other month. Supposing it to finish flowering by the end of this 

 month, remove the plant to a peach-house or vinery at work as soon as it can 

 be moved from the conservatory. Shift the plant into a larger pot at once if it 

 requires it ; at all events, examine the state of the roots, and act accordingly, 

 remembering, however, that the camellia does best to be under-potted. Some 

 prefer not potting until the growth is finished ; I think as soon as the last 

 flower drops the best time. Almost any soil will grow camellias. Some grow 

 them entirely in peat, some in strong loam, approaching to clay ; and I have 

 seen good plants in both. The best soil I believe to be two parts fibry peat, 

 one fibry loam, one-sixth part sharp silver-sand, and one-sixth part rotten, 

 wood, or clean leaf-mould, Keej? them in a temperature of 55° to 60° until 

 their growth is made and flower-buds formed. During this period they 

 should be frequently syringed, and a humid atmosphere maintained. Towards 

 the end of April gradually remove, by easy transitions, to a cool house or cold 

 pit, and the last week in May to a sheltered situation out o.. doors, or they may 

 continue in the same house or pit throughout the season. The pot must be 

 placed on a hard bottom to prevent the ingress of worms, should be watered 

 alternately with clean water and weak liquid manure, and finally removed 

 under glass in October, With such treatment their blossoms will expand in 

 November or December, and exhibit to our admiring gaze during thoso 

 dreary months, the colours they have stolen from the sun's rays under 

 summer skies. 



2232, Fine plants, from 18 inches to two feet high, of the following or 

 equally good varieties, can be supplied at from 305. to 42s. a dozen ; larger 

 plants, from 60s. to 120s. a dozen : — 



All -plena, Albertus, Amabilis, Arch- 

 duchesse Marie, Beata, Chandlerii ele- 

 (jans, Countess of Ellesmere, Countess 

 of Derby, Cup of Beauty, De la Eeine, 

 Duchesse d'Orl^ 'ns, Eximia, Fimbriata, 

 Lady Hume's blush; Grand Frederick, 

 Grandis, Imbricata, Imbricata alba, 



Jenny Lind, Mafhotiana, M, alba. Mar- 

 chioness of Exeter, Princess Eoj'al, 

 Princess Frederick William, Eeticulata, 

 K. flora pleno (this is still expensive), the 

 Bride, Tricolor, Tricolor imbricata pleno, 

 and Victoria magnosa. 



2233. Next to these, Indian azaleas claim our notice for conservatory deco- 

 ration. For flowering now an early habit must be induced. The best plants 

 of Indica alba I have ever grown flowered yearly this month by merely 

 placing them in the conservatory in the autumn. They require a similar 

 growing season after flowering, to the camellia ; and until the shoots are suffi- 

 ciently numerous, or the plants as large as desired, they can be grown on 

 throughout the entire year, and stopped four or five times during that period. 

 This lAishing treatment will, however, sacrifice the blossom ; but if started 

 early, they can be stopped twice, and yet the terminal buds be sufficiently 



