THE CAMELLIA. 393 



a few of the early flowering sorts and forward plants 

 will begin to flower in December. From this time the 

 flowers will increase in quantity up to the middle of 

 March, and decrease henceforth till the beginning of 

 April, when the flowering will be over and the plants 

 begin to grow. 



When growth commences, heat and moisture should be 

 increased, but the increase should be by opening the house 

 late and closing early, rather than by the use of strong fire- 

 heat. Not only should an abundance of water be given 

 to the roots during the period of growth, but the plants 

 should be syringed freely both morning and evening. 

 When growth ceases, more air may be gradually given to 

 harden the newly formed shoots till all possible air is 

 admitted night and day by the middle of June, when the 

 plants may be removed to the north or shady side of 

 a wall or hedge, there to spend the months of July, 

 August, and September. When the plants are in flower, 

 as also when growing, a slight shade is desirable, in 

 the former case to protect and prolong the flowering, 

 and in the latter to prevent the young leaves from being 

 blistered by the sun. To this end tiffany or scrim fixed 

 inside the house answers perfectly, and a good substitute 

 for these may be found in painting the glass inside with 

 milk. 



The proper watering of the Camellia is a cardinal point 

 in its successful cultivation, and here we meet with one of 

 those points which the practical man knows well how to 

 deal with, but which it is extremely difficult to convey to 

 the uninitiated by writing. The most we can do is to say, 

 water freely with weak liquid manure during the flowering 

 and growing season, from January to May, and be careful 

 not to give too much water during the season of compara- 

 tive rest, from June to January. Still, during this latter 

 period, the soil must not be allowed to become what 

 gardeners term dry, or foliage and flowers will alike 

 suffer. 



