306 



The Camellia ; its Propagatio7i. 



of this time, the shoot may be partially severed close to the 

 base of the inarching, and, in three or four weeks, it may be 

 separated from the parent plant. Their after-treatment is the 

 same as the old plants, unless they should show signs of not 

 having been well united, when they should be placed in a 

 close frame until the union is complete, 



GRAFTING. 



Grafting is the most rapid mode of increasing camellias, 

 and is generally practised when the object is to secure a stock 

 of some new and valuable variety, as every bud will make a 

 plant. In the hands of those who have not some skill, and 

 who are not willing to devote considerable care upon the plants, 

 grafting will be an uncertain method of propagation. The 

 operation may be performed at two seasons, viz. — ^just before 

 the plants begin to grow, in February — and after they have 

 ripened their wood, in August. The latter period is the most 

 favorable. 



There are several modes of grafting the camellia, but that 

 most generally adopted is called the Belgic graft, {Jig. 31.) 

 The late M. Soulange Bodin, of Fro- 

 mont. a successful cultivator of the camel- 

 lia, practised c/e/"/?- grafting, but the incis- 

 ion caused by this mode does not heal over 

 readily. 



The Belgic graft is performed in the fol- 

 lowing manner : — Select good healthy 

 stocks, and, if very large, take off some of 

 the top and side shoots, unless there is 

 plenty of frame room. Near the base of 

 the stem, cut away a small portion of the 

 wood and bark an inch in length, with a 

 notch at the base, as in our engraving, 

 {jig- 31, a.) Then prepare the scions, 

 which should have been previously select- 

 ed, by cutting them about two inches in 

 length, with a single bud and leaf attached, 

 and cut them on one side only, in the form of a wedge, (6,) ; 

 fit the barks exactly together, bind firmly with strong 

 woollen yarn, and the operation is finished. 



Pig. 31. Belgic inode 

 of grafting the camellia. 



