• HAi', IV VILLA GARDENING 167 



ones. If, ou examination, the roots of such plants are found un- 

 healthy, the heading down should be delayed for a year, or until, 

 by repotting in nothing but fibry loam, new roots have been made 

 and strength enough generated to cause the buds to start. Cutting 

 off the head of a plant having deficient root action is very likely 

 to kill it. Camellias in a healthy vigorous condition will generally 

 set more flower buds than the plants should be allowed to carry. 

 These should be thinned in autumn to about two or three on each 

 shoot, leaving of coiu-se those best placed for effective display. 

 Camellias are much benefited by frequent washings with the 

 syringe or garden engine during spring and summer, especially in 

 the growing season, if required merely for the sake of their flowers 

 for cutting. 



Planting out. — Camellias may, with advantage, be planted 

 against the back walls of cool Peach or Orchard ' houses, as the 

 shade such places aff"ord will be beneficial rather than otherwise. 

 I have seen very good results obtained in this way at a small 

 cost. The branches may either be trained closely to the wall, 

 which should be wired for the purpose, or, if there is space enough, 

 a greater freedom of development may be permitted. Lime is 

 poisonous to Camellias, Rhododendrons, and Azaleas. If any is 

 present in the soil, the plants turn sickly and cease to grow, and 

 after lingering a time they die ; the only thing that can save them 

 is to change their diet. Camellias never thrive well in the full 

 glare of the sun ; under such conditions it will always be necessary 

 to use a thin shade. Mistakes are sometimes made in planting 

 out pot-bound plants into a loose border of recently-prepared soil. 

 I was some time ago examining a case of this kind. The Camel- 

 lias had been grown in pots for years, and some were pot-bound 

 and were beginning to show symptoms of starvation, when it was 

 decided to plant them into a border which had just been made up 

 in another house. It is probable that when planted the balls were 

 dry, and afterwards they never received water enough to moisten 

 them, although plenty was given ; but instead of penetrating the 

 balls it dribbled down by the side, and the leaves, not being 

 sufficiently supplied, lost their colour, turned brown round the 

 edges, and dropped off". When the cause of the mischief was 

 pointed out, the soil made firm round the balls, and a clay basin 

 formed round each plant about as large as the ball to force 

 the water to percolate through it instead of down by the side, 

 matters soon began to improve, and ultimately the plants did well. 

 Still, it requires careful management to turn out a collection of 

 plants that have been many years in })ots and have become pot- 

 bound and get them to start nicely in a new situation under 



