22 MONOGRAPHY OF THE GENUS CAMELLIA. 



number and success of those, who cultivate the Camellia in large pots, boxes, 

 and even the unconfined earth. There are two reasons which induce our 

 nursery men to raise the Camellia in small pots: first because they occupy 

 less space in the green-house, do not require so much compost to repot them, 

 and they are more easily handled j and secondly, being often obliged to con- 

 fide the watering of the plants, to inexperienced and careless persons, they 

 pour on the water without discretion, which occasions great losses, as the 

 large pots retain the humidity, much longer than the small, which has the 

 same efiFect upon the plants, as too great a quantity of aliment upon the 

 human body, and produces a true indigestion, which immediately kills the 

 Camellia, after having produced disease in the roots, from being long im- 

 mersed in that humidity, which they are no longer capable of absorbing. 

 But, as with a little skill, all these inconveniences can be obviated, there 

 cannot be a doubt, that the Camellia, will succeed better in large pots, where 

 the roots can easily extend themselves, than in those of small size, in which 

 they are confined and compelled to be folded over, and entangled with each 

 other. 



As soon as the Camellia has been repotted, it should be abundantly 

 watered and returned to the green-house, whenever this operation takes 

 place immediately after the period of florescence j and the temperature 

 should be from 50 to 60 degrees during the day, and from 50 to 54 during 

 the night J but at other times it will be sufficient to place it in the shade for a 

 few days, after it has been watered. The increased warmth of the green- 

 house, at this period, causes the plants to throw out long and slender roots, 

 and as the heat of the sun increases daily in its intensity, it is indispensable, 

 that the green-house should be covered, with linen or cotton cloths, or thin 

 mats, during the time the rays of the sun fall upon the glass j for without 

 this precaution, the young shoots and leaves would be scorched and spotted. 



Section 3. — Irrigation ^ and the kind of water most p-oper for 

 that operation. 



It is a principle in horticulture, that exotic plants, with persistent leaves, 

 and which, in our green-houses are in almost a constant and more or less 

 active state of vegetation, according to the temperature of the air, require, 

 even in winter, a certain degree of humidity, sufficient to aff^ord aliment to 



