Marcb 3, 1871. ] 



JOaRNAL OF HORTIOULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



159 



pack, and there are plenty in the pack of equal beauty and 

 more accommodating disposition. 



Pruning is an important operation, and should be performed 

 in spring just after the flowering season, but before the new 

 growth commences. If the plants have been skilfully grown 

 but little pruning is necessary, only just as much as will keep 

 them in shape. It is not advisable to cut back into wood of 

 more than one year's growth, as the dormant eyes on old wood 

 do not readily push forth. They may, however, be stimulated 

 to do so by the agency of ground heat ; and under this head I 

 would allude to and condemn the barbarous practice of cutting 

 Camellia flowers with wood two years old adhering to the 

 flowers for the sake of obtaining a long stalk. Scrubby, poverty- 

 stricken, and misshapen plants are very apt to result from this 

 practice. 



It is well known that the Camellia as a pot plant grows 

 slowly, and like moat evergreens from temperate and cold 

 climates it requires a lengthened period of rest. The first sis 

 months of the year are in this climate the natural period of 

 flowering and growth ; and during the second six months the 

 plants should be kept in a state of comparative rest. During 

 the season of growth we make the foliage and set the flowers ; 

 during the season of comparative rest we establish the quality 

 of the flowers. 



What gardeners term sporting is a characteristic of the 

 Camellia. The Pisouiflora will often produce red and white 

 flowers on the same plant. Press's Eclipse usually produces 

 striped flowers, but occasionally a red or a creamy- white flower 

 will appear. Many of the striped kinds will also produce at 

 times self-coloured flowers. 



When removing the plants from the open air in September, 

 the flower-buds, if too numerous, should in part be removed. 



The green fly occasionally attacks the Camellia, but is easily 

 disposed of by tobacco smoke. The scale is a more trouble- 

 some though less common enemy. It may be removed by a 

 brush. For the health as well as for the appearance of the 

 plants they should be kept clean, and that useful domestic 

 article known as soap is all that is required for the purpose. 

 Syringing with soapsuds occasionally is an excellent plan, and 

 if the suds pass to the roots it will benefit rather than injure 

 them. 



With regard to the best varieties of the Camellia opinions 

 on this point will probably differ, according to whether the 

 individual flower or the general decorative character of the 

 plant is most valued. The Double White combines these 

 qualities, but there are others which possess them singly. 

 Many of the Anemone-flowered varieties are among the most 

 valuable for decorative purposes, and they flower profusely and 

 grow more rapidly, ultimately forming large umbrageous trees. 

 The species known as reticulata is gorgeous as a conservatory 

 plant, but the florist would likely pronounce the flowers loose 

 and untidy in appearance. I shall, therefore, recommend a list 

 of twenty-five varieties from each separate point of view. 



As florists' flowers I select :— 



Cap of Beauty 



Jenny Lind 





Vicomte de Nieulante 



Story ii 





Heine des Beanteg 



Mrs. Cope 





Augnstina Superba 



Bealii 





Princess Baechiochi 



Sarah Frost 





Mrs. Abbey Wilder 



Adriana 





Saccoiana Nova 



Eafia 





Countess of Orkney 



Ubertina 





Souvenir d'Emile Defresne 



M. D'Offoy 





Alba plena 



D.ante 





Pimbriata 



Jubilee 





Valtavaredo 



Aulica 





Imbricata 



- 





As conservatory plants I should choose the following : — 





Lavinia Maggi 



Fimbriata 





Marchioness of Exeter 



Chandlerii 





Comte Boutourlin 



Imbricata 





Countess of Derby 



Elegans 





Catherine Longhi 



Conspicua 





Lucrezia Gazzarrini 



Donckelaeri 





Qaeea Victoria 



Reticulata 





Prince Albert 



Corallina 





Duchesse d'Orleans 



Formosa 





Henri Favre 



Piotnrata 





TVIatbotiana 



Esimia 





Bouomiana 



Monarch 





Alba plena 







In conclusion permit me to reiterate the opinion, that 



the 



CameUia, far from deserving tl 



le ill name it has acquired 



far 



from being a difficult subject to deal with, is one of the least 

 expensive in its habits, and one of the most tractable in its 

 nature to be met with in the whole range of flowering plants. 

 But before venturing to deal with it, it is only reasonable that 

 we should ascertain its nature and requirements. What can 

 we expect if we persist in keeping the dog unduly shut up, or 

 in feeding him on unsuitable or insufficient diet ? — William 

 Paul, Paul's Nurseries, Waltham Cross. 



VINES' DEATH UNEXPLAINED— PERVERSITY 

 OF PEARS— HEATED BORDER FOR 



EAELT VINEKT. 



" A Constant Reader's " Vines (see page 124), are planted 

 outside and taken through the wall — has he looked to see if 

 the rats have not barked them just where they enter the house ? 

 I had a young Vine or two served in that way last year ; they 

 did not push, but the others grew very well. 



The Pear you named for me (Knight's Monarch) was grown 

 against a south wall. I had 150 similar to the specimen sent, 

 and I intend propagating the variety rather largely, as there 

 are only a few late Pears which are really good here (Yorkshire). 

 For instance, I cannot ripen well BeurrS de Ranee and Ne 

 Plus Meuris, yet Knight's Monarch and Glou Morgeau are good. 

 The vagaries of Pears are very strange. Out of about fifty 

 varieties grown here there are not more than twelve really good. 

 All my Pears and Apples are on walls, and so are the Plums. 

 Can you give me a hint or two as to ripening the two Pears I 

 have mentioned ? — J. W. K. 



[Were the stems outside the house sufficiently protected 

 from the frost whilst the stems inside were being forced ? We 

 had several Vines once killed in this way, and we knew of a 

 similar case near here this winter. There are many situations 

 in which Beurre de Ranee does not succeed well ; we should, 

 however, have thought that Ne Plus Meuris would have done 

 well. It succeeds as an open standard in the London district. 

 We can only suggest to you to expose your fruit well to the 

 sun, and especially to allow all late Pears to hang as long as 

 possible on the tree. — Ees.] 



Was the dressing applied hot to "Constant Reader's" 

 Vines, as sometimes men will heat the dressing to make it 

 work better ? It should never be applied hotter than it would 

 become from being placed on a fine or on the pipes. Are the 

 Vines more than one year old ? as, if so, it would not be a case 

 of unripened wood. I see nothing particularly objectionable in 

 the dressing or in the boiling. I always boil my dressing, as 

 it blends the materials so much better ; but compounds, such 

 as the Gishurst, are sometimes of uncertain strengths. The 

 same remark applies to tobacco paper. I use homegrown 

 tobacco stalks chopped fine and well boiled. For Gishurst 

 compound I substitute soft soap, together with a little soot and 

 lime, which mixture, if put on at a temperature of 50°, would 

 never cause any mischief. I have applied it to the Vines in 

 five houses, to Peach trees. Figs, &e., for several years without 

 any ill effects. Was nothing more used in the dressing than 

 the ingredients stated at page 124 ? as I have heard of nux- 

 vomica, urine, and sugar of lead being used, and the mixture 

 of these and other materials might produce an injurious che- 

 mical action. — F. P., Gardener, Hillington. 



"Constant Reader" does not explain whether the dead 

 Vines are alternately with the live ones in the house, or whether 

 they are all at one end, nor does he say how the border is situ- 

 ated — a matter of much consequence in early forcing. 



I started my first vinery on December Ist ; it contains eight 

 Vines, and five of them have made good, strong, short-jointed 

 wood, shown plentv of bunches, and are now in full flower. 

 Of the other thre? Vines whic'i are situated at the cooler end 

 of the house, the flrst, a Sweetwater, has made weak shoots, 

 and has not shown a single bunch. The second is Trentham 

 Black, and the third Black Hamburgh. The last two have not 

 made nearly such good wood, and have not shown so many 

 bunches, nor are the bunches so large. Besides, they are at 

 least three weeks later than the other five Vines, owing to the 

 coldness of the border ; for the fireplace, which is underneath 

 the house, goes as far under the border as the roots of the five 

 Vines extend. This proves the benefit of having the border 

 heated for early forcing ; for not only the Vines are more for- 

 ward, but the crop is belter ia quality and quantity in the part 

 of the house where the border is heated. I am much in favour 



