160 THE FLOWER GARDEN COMPANION. 



leaves death often ensues, which is not the case with decidu- 

 ous plants and shrubs. I have had evident proof that by 

 refreshing Camellias in this way, it gives health and vigor to 

 them, and, at certain seasons, causes the sap to descend, and 

 buds will burst forth from the bare parts of the plant even 

 when it has been divested of all the fibrous roots but a short 

 time before. And further, this process is essential to the 

 flowering of the plant. I have seen instances of large 

 flowers being produced from plants almost rootless ; the 

 watering, or sprinkling over of these plants, may be done 

 more or less according to the season, and the state of the 

 internal air in the situation in which they are growing. 



In the spring, when the flowering is over and the plants 

 begin to grow, refresh them often at their roots, as they 

 require a considerable quantity of water when in a growing 

 state. 



Care should be taken, not to water the top of the plant 

 while in flower, when the sun shines on it, which causes the 

 blossoms to have spots on them, by the water collecting on 

 their petals, and especially on the white kinds. This process 

 may be omitted in cloudy weather, as they will not be in a 

 proper state to imbibe the water; the plants will not dry their 

 foliage or buds, in consequence of which the moistened buds 

 will, in a measure, decay, and the calyx fall off when the 

 flower expands; this appears to be owing to that part being 

 moistened too long, which prevents respiration, in conse- 

 quence of which it becomes inert, and putrefaction follows. 



The heat of the house should be moderate, from forty to 

 forty-five degrees, and at all times a wholesome and mellow 

 internal heat and air, should be the principal aim of the man- 

 ager; extremes of either are always injurious. 



Repotting the plants. Shifting or repotting the Camellia 

 may be performed any time after they have done flowering, 

 which is generally in the month of March ; in doing this, care 

 must be taken to give plenty of drainage, in order to let off 

 the water, which sometimes settles at the bottom and satu- 



