MONOGRAPHY OF THE GENUS CAMELLIA. 23 



the leaves and roots. This is not the case with exotic plants, which have 

 caducous leaves J these plants during the time they are in repose, scarcely 

 require any water. The Camellia being a plant with persistent leaves, likes 

 almost a constant humidity, and especially in summer. Frequent waterings, 

 during the hot season, powerfully contribute, to reanimate and sustain its 

 beautiful appearance. But the second effort of vegetation having termi- 

 nated, when the new wood is almost matured, which is generally the case by 

 the middle of August, and the buds are formed then, until the period of the 

 next florescence, the distribution of water becomes difficult and requires great 

 attention j for the health of the plant chiefly depends upon the care with 

 which this is done. Too little, or not enough humidity, has the like injurious 

 effects. The roots either become dry or rot, the whole plant languishes, the 

 leaves, buds and flowers fall off, and finally it dies. The first consideration 

 then, is the knowledge of adopting the proper mean between humidity and 

 dryness, especially during the period that the Camellia remains in the 

 green-house. 



But what then, is this proper mean which is most congenial to the Ca- 

 mellia? What is the quantity of water which it requires? At what hour of 

 the day should it be given? What kind of water is best? All these questions 

 are of great importance, but easily resolved. We have said that, generally, 

 the Camellia likes almost a constant humidity j but still there should not 

 be given, a great quantity of water at a timej it is only essential to repeat 

 the watering often, in order to keep the earth always in that state of humid- 

 ity, which is sufficient to maintain the fermentation, but by no means so great, 

 as to prevent itj which would inevitably be the case, if the water is too 

 copiously supplied. As to the hours of the day, which are the most favorable 

 for watering the Camellia, we can only say, they must depend on the seasons, 

 and especially on the temperature of the external air. In the winter, 

 whether the pale and feeble rays of the sun appear to gladden the sad and 

 dreary aspect of nature, or that she is long deprived of them, as is most com- 

 mon, it is necessary during those short and cold days, to water this plant, 

 between nine and ten o'clock in the morning, in order that the earth may 

 have time to regain its heat, by permitting the evaporation of a portion of 

 its humidity. If the Camellia is watered in the evening, the coolness of the 

 night joined to that of the water, arrests the progress of the sap, and there 



