144 MONTHLY CALENDAR. 



Double Camellias are generally propagated on stocks of 

 the single, which are procured by planting cuttings of the 

 young shoots in light mould under bell glasses ; on these, 

 when grown to a sufficient size, are inarched the finer kinds 

 of double. Sometimes these latter are also struck by cut- 

 tings; but as their progress by such method is generally 

 slow and uncertain, it is seldom resorted to. These valuable 

 plants are too often injured by amateurs, from misapplied 

 care bestowed upon them, so that their whole compensation 

 and enjoyment is reduced to the mere possession of a hand- 

 some green shrub. Destined, from the extreme beauty and 

 unrivalled delicacy of their flowers, to become the chief 

 pride and ornament of the green-house and drawing-room 

 in the winter season, Camellias should have a fair chance 

 given them to exhibit their fine bloom in perfection. 



It should be observed, that Camellias are by no means 

 tender shrubs, but require to be kept in a medium, even 

 temperature, and they generally succeed best in a green- 

 house, where the atmosphere is damp. As the buds begin 

 to swell, they will require more water than at any other time, 

 which may be applied from the rose of a watering-pot, or 

 syringe, while in bud, but when in blossom it should be ap- 

 plied to the earth. 



If Camellias be kept where there is a dry air, occasioned 

 from fire heat, they must have plenty of the natural air at 

 all opportunities, or the buds will become brown and fall 

 off; and if they are exposed to extreme cold at night, which 

 is too often the case when kept in rooms of an uneven 

 temperature, premature decay of the buds will inevitably be 

 the consequence. 



To preserve Camellias in a healthy condition, they should 

 be kept in a fresh, moderately light soil, consisting of sandy 

 loam taken from under grass sods, and leaf mould well 

 mixed ; nothing being more injurious to them than over- 

 potting ; they should not be shifted into larger pots, until the 

 projection of their roots show evidently that they are in need 



