392 THE CAMELLIA. 



commences, but we have found repotting at this season 

 unfavourable to the setting of flower-buds, resulting in 

 the formation of wood-shoots rather than flower-shoots. 

 It is our practice to repot early in September, when the 

 flower-buds are set and sufficiently hard not to be 

 injuriously affected by the process. At that season the 

 plants are or should be out-of-doors, under a north wall or 

 fence, and here they may remain for a month (early in 

 October), when they may be conveyed to their winter 

 quarters under glass. It is important when repotting or 

 transferring a plant from a small pot to a larger one to ram 

 the new soil firmly around the old ; in order that the new 

 soil may approach the old in solidity, for if only loosely 

 pressed the water at all subsequent periods will pass 

 through the loose soil alone, leaving the old or central soil 

 untouched. Although we have not given this in our 

 answers to questions on the unsatisfactory state of 

 Camellias as a cause, we are not sure that some of the 

 annoyances cultivators are subject to may not be attributed 

 to the looseness of the outer circle of the soil in plants 

 which have been repotted. 



Let us assume, then, that the plants have been 

 examined as to the state of their roots and are placed in 

 their winter quarters. Whether they have a house to 

 themselves, which is desirable, or a house in common with 

 other plants, we proceed to follow up the treatment favour- 

 able to their development. Throughout the autumn and 

 winter months abundance of air should be given night and 

 day except in frosty weather, only so much heat being 

 maintained as shall exclude frost. The house should be 

 kept scrupulously clean, and the plants should be looked 

 over, with water-pot in hand, every second day, that they 

 may not suffer from drought, but of course only such as 

 are dry should be watered. A moderately moist state of 

 the soil is desirable till the plants begin to flower, when an 

 increased supply of water should be given in the shape of 

 weak liquid manure. It is probable that without forcing 



