MONOGRAPHY OF THE GENUS CAMELLIA. 31 



sary, and then placed in a position, where the heat can be augmented, in 

 order that they may by this artificial means commence vegetation promptly 

 and finish their first growth, a month sooner than usual. They are to be 

 removed from the green-house, by the end of May, instead of the close of 

 June and placed in a less shady exposition, than is the general custom. 



In April, the plants which give indications of blooming, should be re- 

 tained in a green-house, which must be ventilated, during the day, but 

 closed at night j and they must be protected, against the solar rays, by means 

 of cloths, or light mats, and kept in a uniformly temperate and equal atmos- 

 phere. In proportion as the exterior air diminishes in temperature, that 

 within must be elevated. By this mode of culture, if it is well conducted, 

 abundant and beautiful flowers will be obtained, in the month of September. 

 Besides those plants, which are ready to bloom, may be placed toward the 

 end of this month, in a hot bed which is kept moderately warm, — care being 

 taken to screen them from the sun, and give them air in the day time, and 

 they will continue to bloom in succession. 



When it is desirable to retard the florescence of the Camellia, all the 

 operations which have been described, are but to be performed a month later, 

 to make them bloom naturally j and by the means of a less elevated artificial 

 atmosphere, but which, however, is constantly equal, the development of 

 the flowers may be retarded for several weeks. 



Section 9. — Means of preventing the buds from falling off. 



To prevent the fall of the buds, — a natural desire of the horticulturists 

 — and induce the Camellia to bloom abundantly every year, it is necessary 

 to attend constantly and in the most faithful manner to its culture, especially 

 from the time of repotting, to the development of the flowers. We shall not 

 repeat, what has been said upon repotting, but add: first, that it is indis- 

 pensable, immediately after that operation, to keep the Camellia in a tem- 

 perature, of from 58 to 65 degrees, during the day, and from 54 to 58 in 

 the night J second, that as soon as the young shoots have terminated their 

 development, during which they are still in a herbaceous state, it is requisite 

 to increase the heat of the green-house from 68 to 77 degrees during the 

 day, and from 58 to 65 in the night. This augmentation of temperature, 

 causes the buds to appear more readily, in greater abundance, and more vig- 



