20 PLANTS FOB WINDOW GARDENING. 



summer, the plants should be placed in a shady, airy 

 situation, out of doors ; allow room enough between the 

 plants for free circulation of air ; the practice of setting 

 the plants in a mass, under trees, is most objectionable; 

 in the first place, the drip from the branches overhead is 

 injurious, and again, the pots become filled with earth- 

 worms, which are often difficult to dislodge. 



Another mistake in the culture of camellias is too fre- 

 quently re-potting ; while the plant should not be allowed 

 to become pot-bound, too much room should not be 

 afforded ; a vigorous plant ' will not require re-potting 

 oftener than every three years; on this point there is, 

 however, some difference of opinion. It is a popular error 

 that the wood of a camellia should not be cut ; on the 

 contrary, there is scarcely a hard-wooded plant that bears 

 the knife better; the plant is by nature symmetrical in 

 growth, and, by judicious pruning, perfect specimens may 

 easily be obtained. 



Pruning should be done after blooming, just as the plants 

 begin their growth. Not more than one flower bud should 

 be allowed on each terminal shoot, if size and perfection 

 of flower are required ; remove all others before the buds 

 begin to swell ; if delayed longer, little advantage is gained. 



