On the Cultivation of Camellias in an open Border. 169 



out nearly fifty others, each about one foot high, but I never 

 could get them to survive long. From these circumstances 

 I am convinced, that unless the plants be strong and bushy, 

 and well supplied with roots, they will not be able to resist 

 the cold in winter, certainly not in this northern part of the 

 kingdom. 



In July, 1819, single plants of the above-mentioned three 

 kinds were planted out with their balls entire ; the fibrous 

 roots around the outside of the balls were gently loosened by 

 the hand, and as far as practicable placed in direct lines from 

 each bole, so that upon pushing forward they immediately 

 entered into the soil of the border. I have uniformly found 

 the process of loosening the roots, to promote very essentially 

 the early establishment and future progress of all plants, that 

 had been grown in pots previously to turning out. After the 

 holes were opened for the reception of the plants, I mixed 

 with the soil at the bottom and sides, a good portion of well 

 rotted cow-dung. The top- of each ball of earth was placed 

 so low that when the soil of the border was levelled, it was 

 four inches below the surface. After gently pressing the soil 

 around the ball of roots, each plant was well watered with 

 drainings from the dung-hill; this watering was repeated 

 several times during the summer. The stems were, from the 

 first, well secured to prevent their being loosened by the wind. 



At the end of the following October, I laid over the roots 

 of each plant, to the extent of tw o feet from the stem, some 

 old spent bark, to the depth "of eight inches, and afterwards 

 placed around each a wooden frame the height of the plant, 

 and open at the top. Upon this in severe weather a hand- 

 glass was placed, and in very hard frosts the whole was 



VOL. VII. Z 



