CALLIOPSIS. 



CAMELLIA. 



icmperature, are almost sure to take them- 

 selves off suddenly without leave, leaving 

 yawning vacancies behind, at a time when 

 it is often impossible to replace them. For 

 ease, simplicity, and certainty of success, 

 autumn is the season for furnishing the 

 entire stock oi calceolarias. 



Calliop'sis (not. ord. Compos'itse). 



The Calliopsis, or, as it is generally 

 called, Coreopsis, is one of the most showy, 

 free-flowering, and beautiful of hardy 

 annuals. The tall varieties are very effect- 

 live in mixed borders and fronts of shrub- 

 beries ; the dwarf kinds, from their close 

 compact habit of growth, make fine 

 bedding-plants, and are valuable for edg- 

 ings. The different varieties make very 



CALLIOPSIS, OR COREOPSIS. 



pretty ribbons. Amongst the tall varieties, 

 C. filifolia is the most graceful and beauti- 

 ful, and C. bicolor or tinctoria the most 

 showy and effective in mixed borders. 

 Most of these are hardy annuals propagated 

 by seed, but some are hardy perennials and 

 evergreens, propagated by cuttings and 

 division of the roots. A light sandy loam 

 is mjst suitable for both kinds. 



Camellia (nat. ord. Ternstfcemia'cese). 

 The Caw7l3ais an oid-established green- 

 houst favourite, and at one time it was 

 supposed to be essentially a greenhouse 

 plant, It has been found, however, that it 

 is as hardy as the rhododendron, and as 



easy of culture out of doors. Its robust 

 constitution, dark glossy foliage, and wax- 

 like flowers, render it essentially a useful 

 plant for greenhouse culture for amateurs ; 

 for it will bloom at a time of year when 

 flowers, comparatively speaking, are indeed 

 scarce. December is the month above all 

 others when it is most useful. By inducing 

 early growth and early maturity, it will 

 flower in December from habit, as well, if 

 not better, than in any other month. 



Camellia,. Culture and Manage 

 ment of. 



The culture and management of the 

 Camellia throughout the year under glass 

 may be briefly summarised as follows : 

 Supposing it to finish flowering by the end 

 of December, remove the plant to a peach- 

 house or vinary at work as soon as it can 

 be moved from the conservatory. Shift the 

 plant into a larger pot at once if it requires 

 it ; at all events examine the state of the 

 roots, and act accordingly, remembering, 

 however, that the camellia does best to be 

 under-potted. Some prefer not potting 

 until the growth is finished ; but when the 

 last flower drops is, perhaps, the best 

 time. Almost any soil will grow camellias. 

 Some grow them entirely in peat, some in 

 strong loam, approaching to clay ; and 

 good plants maybe obtained in both. The 

 best soil, however, consists of two parts 

 fibry peat, one fibry loam, one-sixth part 

 sharp silver sand, and one-sixth part rotten 

 wood, or clean leaf-mould. Keep them in 

 a temperature of 55 to 60 until their 

 growth is made and flower-buds formed. 

 During this period they should be fre- 

 quently syringed, and a humid atmospbere 

 maintained. Towards the end of April 

 gradually remove, by easy transitions, to a 

 cool house or cold pit, and the last week 

 in May to a sheltered situation out of doors, 

 or they may continue in the same house or 

 pk throughout the season. The pot must be 



