264 Culture of the Camellia. 



CULTURE OF THE CAMELLIA. 



BY MR. ELEY. 



Camellia Japonic a, in the groves and gardens of Japan, 

 is a lofty tree, much admired for its fine form, rich clothing of 

 shining deep green foliage, and elegant red or white flower 

 single or double. It is equally admired in China as in Japan, 

 and much cultivated in both countries. It is of frequent oc- 

 currence in Chinese paintings, with Hibiscus and Chrysanthe- 

 num, two of their great favorites. There are several varieties 

 of C. Japonica in China, most of which have been imported, 

 and their number increased from seedlings raised in this 

 country. Yet its management is not generally understood, ex- 

 cept by cultivators, and persons having large green-houses. 

 Many persons are deterred from having them in their rooms 

 and small conservatories, as they consider them difficult to 

 manage. The chief complaint is that they drop their buds 

 before flowering. This may be in a great measure prevented 

 by attending to the following directions. 



The chief points are to protect the plant from the sun in 

 summer, to prevent the roots from matting around the sides of 

 the pot, and not to give them too much water when they are 

 not growing. When the plants are placed in the conservatory 

 in the autumn, they should be shaded from the sun at noon- 

 day in September and October, and also in the spring, in April 

 and May. If exposed to the full sun, the leaves are apt to 

 tarn yellow, and the plants get sickly. When placed out of 

 the house in summer, they should be put in a shady situation, 

 where, if they have any sun, it should be but little, and that 

 early in the morning. When Camellias are flowering, and 

 during their growth, they should be watered pretty freely, but 

 not kept saturated, nor should they be suffered to become very 

 dry before water is given them. In summer they should be 

 kept moist, and be watered over their leaves in the evening, 

 which is very beneficial to them ; and during winter it is best 

 to keep them rather dry. 



