MONOGRAPHY OF THE GEImUS CAMELLIA. 27 



Section 5. — The "prosper kind of green-house for the Camellia. 



The Camellia being a rustic shrub, it prospers sufficiently well in all 

 kinds of green-houses j but to render its florescence abundant and beautiful, 

 it should be kept in, a medium temperature, and placed, as near as possible 

 to the light. Those plants which possess great vigor, and are from six to 

 seven feet in height, flourish every where, if they are not checked, by acci- 

 dental circumstances, as is frequently the case, with those, which have a 

 lower exposition. But the young plants, which have recently been produced 

 by grafting, or which are not more than a foot high, as well as all the deli- 

 cate and rare species, require a brilliant light to bloom well. It is true, that 

 such a position offers serious inconveniences, and among others, a stroke of 

 the sun in the spring, which at any moment may scorch and injure the health 

 of the plants. But these accidents can be prevented, by extending daily, 

 about eight or nine o'clock in the morning, cloths over the glass and with- 

 drawing them, as soon as the sun disappears from the green-house. 



The double roofed green-houses, which are called English or Chinese^ 

 are excellent for small Camellias j but they do not present an agreeable ap- 

 pearance j still it is well to have one of them, to make the Camellia flourish, 

 until the period it comes into flower, when it can be removed to the large 

 green-houses. 



The green-house for the Camellia should be furnished, like all others, 

 with a stove or furnace, well built of masonry, the funnel of which should be 

 of brick and of a square form, placed in the interior, against one of the walls j 

 — that in front is most usually selected for the purpose. The entrance to the 

 furnace should be on the outside, so that the fire can be attended to, with- 

 out entering the green-house. This precaution is very necessary to prevent 

 the smoke from being admitted, as its injurious influence is irreparable j the 

 fall of the leaves and buds being the immediate consequences. 



The confined heat of the green-house produces a vapor, which attaches 

 itself to the ceiling, glass and walls, where it is condensed and falls in drops 

 upon the plants. This concentrated vapor, is injurious to the Camellias 

 which receive it, if they are suffered thus to remain, for any considerable 

 time. In order to promptly remove it, it is useful, when the exterior atmos- 

 phere will permit, to open some of the sashes, and kindle, at the same time. 



