144 



Commercial Gardening 



compost preferred by specialists on this occasion consists of 3 parts 

 rich loam, 1 part leaf mould, and a good sprinkling of rough powdered 

 charcoal and crushed oyster shell or a little mortar rubble. Failing this 

 a little basic slag will be found excellent. Throughout the growing period, 



the main points to attend to 

 are careful watering, sprink- 

 ling overhead on all warm 

 genial days, shading from 

 strong sunshine, fumigating if 

 necessary for Greenfly, and 

 keeping a watch for slugs, 

 which are sometimes very 

 troublesome. When the plants 

 are coming into flower, weak 

 liquid manure may be given 

 occasionally, but over-water- 

 ing must be guarded against 

 (fig. 271). 



Camellia. The trade in 

 Camellias is not nearly so ex- 

 tensive as in former years, 



Fig. 271. Herbaceous Calceolaria although One Or two nursery- 



men still make a brave show 



of flowering plants during the winter season. At one time growers for 

 market cultivated Camellias in almost any kind of glass structure, and 

 in old establishments one may still see here and there some fine old 

 specimens in tumble-down lean-to houses. Late vineries were a favourite 

 place for housing the pot plants during the winter months, while during 

 the summer months they were placed in the open air in the same way as 

 Azaleas. For the purpose of the cut-flower trade the old Double White 

 Camellia (alba plena} is unrivalled, and is largely used by florists. The 

 blooms are cut quite close to the base without a stalk, and are packed in 

 shallow boxes on a layer of cotton wool, and realize from Is. to Is. Qd. 

 per dozen flowers. Of late years, however, owing to the more extensive 

 use of the white lancifolium and longiflorum Liliums, the Double White 

 Camellia has lost its former importance. 



The culture of Camellias is quite simple. They flourish in almost 

 any good soil of a loamy nature, or a mixture of loam and peat, and 

 require very little heat, even to force into early blossom. During growth 

 the roots must be supplied with plenty of water, and until the flower 

 buds are well set the foliage must be frequently syringed to keep it 

 clean and glossy and free from attacks of insects and black fungus. 



To keep plants in good shape it is necessary to thin out twiggy shoots 

 in the centre after the flowering period, and thus induce new growths 

 outwards and lower down the main stems. It is unnecessary to pot the 

 plants every year, some lasting for several years in the same pots. To 



