MONOGRAPHY OF THE GENUS CAMELLIA. 37 



substances which have been separated from the peat soil, when preparing it 

 for filling the pots. The Camellia being thus set out, great care should be 

 taken, to afford it a free circulation of air in the summer, and especially a 

 humid atmosphere; and for this purpose, the sashes should be left open 

 every pleasant night, to enable the plant to enjoy the refreshing dews, dur- 

 ing that season j and it will also be beneficial to the plants, to renew the 

 earth which surrounds their roots, every three or four years. 



The Camellia placed in unconfined earth, without protection, is not 

 capable of resisting, a temperature lower than from 38 to 41; consequently 

 it would be a useless experiment, to attempt, in the climate of Paris, to ex- 

 pose it to a greater degree of cold. If the winter should be mild, it may be 

 preserved, beyond a doubt, vegetate well during the summer, and offer a 

 beautiful appearance in autumn; but the frequent variations of the atmos- 

 phere, at that period, would cause the buds to fall off. 



In warm climates, in a northern exposure, where it can be screened from 

 the sun, and in a soil which is congenial, the Camellia would become a mag- 

 nificent tree, and present, at the time of its florescence an enchanting aspect. 

 This prospect can be enjoyed at Caserta, near Naples, where there is culti- 

 vated, in the royal domains, a Camellia, which was planted in 1760. It is 

 more than 40 feet high, and occupies, with its lateral branches, a space more 

 than twenty feet in circumference. It is covered with thousands of blossoms 

 in the spring, to which succeeds an abundant fructification, affording the 

 means of infinite multiplication. We have often visited that admirable tree, 

 and to perpetuate the recollection, we designed and colored it upon the spot, 

 with all the exactness, which our feeble powers would allow. We presented 

 the original painting to our master and honorable colleague, Mr. De Can- 

 dolle, the elder. 



Section 12. — Pruning of the Camellia. 



There are but few exotic plants, which bear pruning, as well as the 

 Camellia; and by performing this operation with intelligence and at the 

 proper time, it assumes the form, which it may be desired to give it, and 

 blossoms most abundantly. The periods for pruning are, either the spring, 

 immediately after the florescence, or in the summer, after the second 

 growth; that is, about the middle of August. If the pruning is performed 



