212 The Culture of the Camellia. 



amount of water, until the incipient blossom-bud attains a 

 decided character, which it will do in four or five weeks. It 

 may here be understood that I intend a temporary check, yet 

 not such a check as may interfere with the health of the 

 plant, or the size of its foliage ; such a check may be decried, 

 by minds unprepared for, and indisposed to, a nicety in cul- 

 ture : I, however, advise no more than I have proved, for 

 many years. 



A too severe check would materially impair the size of the 

 foliage ; I have, however, constantly found, that the most 

 luxuriant foliage may be obtained, and blossom-buds as well, 

 provided the root is in a sound and healthy condition : with- 

 out this, — as, indeed, with all other modes of culture, — all 

 niceties of atmospheric management must fall to the ground. 

 As Mr. Barnes once observed, in regard to the culture of the 

 pine, the main point is, to cultivate them with plenty of live 

 roots. 



I would here advert, however, to the importance of sup- 

 plying abundance of atmospheric moisture, whilst the tem- 

 porary check is going on ; this it is which prevents loss of 

 size in the foliage, and I may add, loss of color also. 



I may here observe, that this check, through a very mod- 

 erate allowance of water, is carried so far with a somewhat 

 gross subject, as to permit the plant to flag a little, occasion- 

 ally. When the roots are healthy, I find no injurious conse- 

 quences result from it : I may observe, however, that this is 

 not permitted, until the leaves have attained nearly, or quite, 

 their full size. 



Liquid manure is, of course, entirely withheld, during this 

 stage, or period; and after the checking system has been per- 

 sisted in for a few weeks, most of the shoots will begin to 

 show twin buds at their terminal points, or even three or 

 four, as the case may be. Nothing more is necessary, than 

 to be very cautious in the return to a liberal watering, of 

 which I shall speak in the next period. It may here be 

 observed, that before a more liberal course of treatment is had 

 recourse to, most of the young shoots should show the twin 

 buds before alluded to, one of which is the true terminal 



