354 The Camellia ; Winter Treatment. 



at night. Nothing is more prejudicial to all plants than a 

 high temperature in the early part of winter. 



It is supposed, that, where there is much of a collection of 

 plants, they will be kept together, for there are many advan- 

 tages in this ; they can, of course, be removed to the most 

 conspicuous parts of the house when in bloom, but, at other 

 times, it will be best to have them form a group by them- 

 selves. After they have all been arranged, as we have ad- 

 vised, no particular care is needed until they begin to grow 

 again in the spring. If the leaves are very dirty, it will be 

 well to wash them carefully with a sponge, finishing with a 

 good syringing, or to wipe the leaves very carefully with 

 a piece of dry and fine linen. If there are any scales, or 

 other insects, the sponge and a small brush, to destroy them, 

 are best. When neatly done, this gives the foliage a bril- 

 liancy and lustre which render the plants doubly beautiful. 



The camellia, as we have before remarked, is fond of 

 moisture, yet this must not be applied in excess, or the plants 

 will be likely to drop their flower-buds. Observation and 

 experience are the only guides to the proper application of 

 water. It is impossible to apply any rules. In warm sunny 

 weather, the plants will need water two or three times a 

 week ; in cold, damp weather, only once. The best guide is 

 to always keep the earth moist without being saturated. 

 Once or twice during the winter the pots should be thor- 

 oughly washed, and each time the surface of the soil should 

 be cleared of any moss and made level. 



From December to March, the plants will display their 

 beautiful flowers, the height of their bloom being about the 

 middle of February. About the first of March the plants 

 will show signs of growing, unless the house is kept very cool. 

 But, whether then or later, as soon as the buds break, the 

 plants should be rather more liberally watered ; they should 

 also be freely syringed in all good weather. If the rays of 

 the sun are too powerful, the glass should be whitened, or a 

 thin shade may be put up ; but it is absolutely necessary to 

 have some shade, especially if the glass is liable to burn. 



By the middle of May the plants will have so completed 

 their growth that the flower-buds will appear ; as soon as 

 this is observed, the temperature of the house should be 



