122 THE CAMELLIA HOUSE. 



that those which are to be placed for a time in the open air, should be 

 arranged in a situation that is completely shaded from the mid-day's sun, 

 and that they are also placed in a sheltered position, and abundantly sup- 

 plied with water during dry and warm weather. The period when they 

 can with, advantage be so placed is, in most seasons, from the beginning 

 of June till the end of September ; but this depends very much upon the 

 progress the young wood has made, prior to the former of those dates. 

 The young wood should be fully formed and partially ripened before they 

 are turned out ; at this period the flower buds also mil have been formed. 

 In cold wet seasons, it may be necessar}^ to remove them earher into the 

 house, wiiere they should have air abundantly admitted to them, to ripen 

 the wood and fully mature the flower buds. 



SOIL. 



Some writers recommend peat mould alone ; and others, a compound of 

 peat, loam, rotten dung and vegetable mould. Our opinion is, that a light, 

 yellow loam, mth a veiy small portion of peat, is to be prefen-ed ; and in 

 this we are borne out by the practice of ^Messrs. Loddiges, and Chandler 

 and Sons, of Vauxhall, two of the most successful cultivators of this tribe 

 of plants in England. 



SHIFTING OR POTTING. 



The months of Febmary and March, about which period the flowering 

 season is past, are the times recommended for this operation by the most 

 successful cultivators ; with a view to obtain large specimens, frequent shift- 

 ing is necessary, as the roots may extend to the extremity of the balls, 

 while, to obtain abundance of bloom upon moderately sized plants, the 

 best practice is to confine the roots to a reasonable extent, at the same time 

 to give a moderate quantity of water at all times. "VVTien the opera- 

 tion of potting is finished^ the plants should be placed in a temperature of 

 from sixty five to seventy five degrees, during the day, and fi'om five to ten 

 degrees of less temperature during the night. The apphcation of a mild 

 and somewhat humid heat, at this period, is of vast importance to the 

 growth of the Camellia ; for without it, the buds would break weakly, 

 and instead of producing vigourous shoots of from four to twelve inches 

 in length, would only push to the extent of an inch or two, and in the 



