376 ON THE CAMELLIA AND ITS CULTURE. 



are plenty in the pack of equal beauty and more accom- 

 modating disposition. 



Pruning is an important operation, and should, be 

 performed in spring just after the flowering season, but 

 before the new growth commences. If the plants have 

 been skilfully grown but little pruning is necessary, only 

 just as much as will keep them in shape. It is not 

 advisable to cut back into wood of more than one year's 

 growth, as the dormant eyes on old wood do not readily 

 push forth. They may, however, be stimulated to do so 

 by the agency of ground heat ; and under this head I 

 would allude to and condemn the barbarous practice of 

 cutting Camellia flowers with wood two years old adhering 

 to the flowers for the sake of obtaining a long stalk. 

 Scrubby, poverty-stricken, and misshapen plants are very 

 apt to result from this practice. It is well known that the 

 Camellia as a pot plant grows slowly, and like most 

 evergreens from temperate and cold climates it requires a 

 lengthened period of rest. The first six months of the 

 year are in this climate the natural period of flowering and 

 growth ; and during the second six months the plants 

 should be kept in a state of comparative rest. During the 

 season of growth we make the foliage and set the flowers ; 

 during the season of comparative rest we establish the 

 quality of the flowers. 



What gardeners term " sporting " is a characteristic of 

 the Camellia. The Pceoniflora will often produce red and 

 white flowers on the same plant. Press's Eclipse usually 

 produces striped flowers, but occasionally a red or creamy- 

 white flower will appear. Many of the striped kinds will 

 also produce at times self-coloured flowers. 



When removing the plants from the open-air in 

 September, the flower-buds, if too numerous, should in 

 part be removed. 



The green fly occasionally attacks the Camellia, but 

 is easily disposed of by tobacco smoke. The scale is a 

 more troublesome though less common enemy. It may 



