216 The Culture of the Camellia. 



the most free and ample ventilation which the weather will 

 permit is used night and day, and just as much fire applied 

 as will sustain a temperature of about 50° max. by day, and 

 40° to 45° by night. 



The maintenance of so moderate an amount of artificial 

 heat, requires very little fuel, and admits of a liberal ventila- 

 tion, even at night. But this is not all ; in extreme cases, I 

 have applied a covering of some kind to the roof, which 

 course, indeed, combined with the precautions before named, 

 is, under the most trying circumstances, a guarantee against 

 drip ; which, I need scarcely observe, is fatal to the beauty 

 of the camellia, causing spots all over the blossoms, and in- 

 deed, inducing premature decay. 



It is well known, that a portion of the atmosphere's mois- 

 ture in the interior, — albeit ample ventilation is provided, — 

 becomes, in extreme weather, frozen on the inside of the 

 glass ; that is to say, when no night covering is used. With 

 a covering, however, and a free circulation of air, the vapor 

 is dispersed as it arises, passing off, of course, at the back 

 ventilators. 



I have little more to say about the development of the 

 blossom ; I may merely observe, that, to produce fine flowers, 

 a temperature averaging 55° is requisite ; but, nevertheless, 

 it becomes necessary to fall back, in extreme cases, to the 

 temperature before quoted ; for it is not merely the develop- 

 ment of the flowers, but their long continuance in blossom, 

 which must engage the attention of the cultivator. 



Having now discussed all the periods with which I set 

 out, I may now beg permission to make a few concluding 

 remarks on some general principles, which are applicable, in 

 a greater or less degree, to the camellia in all stages, and un- 

 der most circumstances. 



Soils and Potting. It may not be generally knoAvn, that 

 the almost continual use of liquid manure demands even a 

 greater amount of, or more perfect drainage, than when clear 

 water is used. Good drainage, indeed, under all circumstances, 

 is one of the great essentials in the culture of the camellia ; 

 and when the soil is rightly constituted, the water will pass 



