370 ON THE CAMELLIA AND ITS CULTURE. 



In Devonshire, in many sheltered parts of the country, and 

 even in the neighbourhood of London, where the soil is 

 tolerably dry, the Camellia has been planted out both in 

 the open ground and against walls, where it has resisted 

 the frost of several successive winters. It must be told, 

 however, that some varieties are hardier in our climate 

 than others. One of the most skilful of American horti- 

 culturists has assured me that some kinds which usually 

 have a delicate and meagre appearance here are exceed- 

 ingly healthful and vigorous in the climate of New York. 

 We cannot count upon the Camellia as a flowering shrub, 

 only as an evergreen shrub out of doors in this country, 

 because the flowers produced under out-of-door culture 

 expand in spring, when they are often quickly spoiled by 

 the variable weather. In order to rejoice in all its beauties 

 we must then use glass structures. In winter and spring 

 it will suffer nothing, when under glass, from 10 or 15 

 of frost. Both Chandlers' and Loddiges' collections were 

 frequently frozen but never hurt. 



When the flowering is over and the new growth com- 

 mences, say in March, a warmer climate than we usually 

 experience out-of-doors is desirable. A temperature of 

 60 to 70 by day and 50 by night should be maintained 

 throughout the growing season, which we will assume to 

 be March, April, and May. The hygrometric state of the 

 air is not less important than its temperature at this 

 season. Mr Chandler attributes the dropping of the buds 

 to dryness of atmosphere and too much fire heat. What 

 gardeners call a moist air should be secured by syringing 

 the plants once or twice daily, copiously or lightly, during 

 the season of growth, according to the amount of sunshine 

 experienced. Soot water may be used with advantage in 

 syringing. A close dank atmosphere must be avoided by 

 the admission of more or less air from without, as the state 

 of the weather may permit. By the use of heat and mois- 

 ture at this season we seek to realise and combine a 

 vigorous growth with a full crop of flowers. 



