Foreign JSTotices, — England. 103 



MISCELLANEOUS LNTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Foreign Notices. 



ENGLAND. 



Cultivation of the Camellia. — "The West London Gardeners' As- 

 sociation for mutual instruction, holds monthly meetinsrs for the pur- 

 pose of presenting papers upon the cultivation of various plants, 

 and for discussing and interchanging opinions upon their respective 

 merits. Some of the papers read, we have already presented to our 

 readers, and we doubt not they have been read with much instruc- 

 tion. At a late meeting, one of the members read a paper on the 

 culture of the camellia, and as we consider the remarks of the writ- 

 er, together with the discussion which it elicited, a good exposition 

 of the management of this fine plant, we are induced to copy it en- 

 tire. 



The camellia will grow and bloom under very ordinary treatment, 

 when placed in the green-house; but it is not often that the plants 

 are seen in that vigorous and healthy condition which gives to this 

 tribe a great part of its claim to our attention. Its large, broad, 

 deep green, shining foliage, is one of its chief attractions, and ren- 

 ders it at all times, and all seasons, ornamental: and when, from ill 

 treatment, the plants lose their leaves in part, or they become dis- 

 eased, and from thence the foliage assumes a sickly hue, ihough they 

 may still open a few weakly half formed blossoms, they lose their 

 principal beauty. It is only when seen in full vigor, throwing out 

 their sjilendid blooms, embosomed ami almost reflected in the polish- 

 ed surface of its noble leaves, that the camellia commands and en- 

 chains our admiration, as one of the most splendid acquisitions to 

 our gardens. 



The author of the paper was Mr. Shearer, a practical gardener. 

 "He began by observing that camellias, like heaths and geran- 

 iums, require a separate house to give them that attention and treat- 

 ment which are proper for each genus. The splendid and beautiful 

 colors in the flowers of the camellia form a fine contrast with the 

 glossy green folia^re which is so consfiicuous at that early season of 

 the year when they are most easily produced. His practice, when 

 done flowerina', was to raise the temperature of the house to 50° or 

 53^, in which heat they are more certain to mature the wood and to 

 set the buds. Water should then be given liberally to the root, and 

 syringings every morning and evening. Bunting to be used to shade 

 them, from May until September, during sunshine. If any were ob- 

 served to grow too much to wood, by discontinuing the watering it 

 would give a gentle check, which would materially assist to set the 

 buds. He would recommend inarchinir as the most certain and ex- 

 ])edilious way of propagating camellias; tongue-grafting he also 

 practised, covering the part with moss, which he found preferable to 

 clay; then putting them under hand-glasses, giving but little air until 

 they were united. The compost to be light and rich; two parts turfy 

 loam, one part leaf mould, and one part sandy peat, with a little de- 

 composed cow-dung; when desirable to grow them large, to be pot- 



