ON FLOWERING THE CAMELLIA IN WINTER. 
137 
kinds, as well as isolated specimens, would be tenfold more beautiful if all the 
individuals which compose it were faultless as specimens. Planting at the time the 
plants are small, at a much greater distance from each other than is usually done, 
and a trifling attention to training, would be productive of a considerable advance in 
the right direction ; but if they are to be made thoroughly handsome bushes, full 
attention must be paid to pruning and training. 
Hardy Rhododendrons, Kalmias, and all allied genera, may be included in the 
above observations, for although they frequently of themselves grow to beautiful 
objects, yet there seldom occurs an instance of a specimen in which the above 
attention would not have wrought some decided improvement. 
ON FLOWERING THE CAMELLIA IN WINTER. 
An observation or two on this, subject, made at page 112 of vol. xiii., attracted 
considerable attention, and would doubtless be all that the practical and experienced 
horticulturist required, if he was not already familiar with the fact, that Camellias 
may be had in bloom two- thirds of the year. Sufficient was there said to enable 
those classes of individuals to adopt measures that would lead to the accomplishment 
of their wishes. Amateurs, however, and many others, who take an active interest 
in gardening pursuits, but have too little leisure to bestow that attention to the 
details of practice, may require a fuller explanation. The following few remarks 
are intended to supply the deficiency. 
Young plants of the Camellia, in which it is desirable to induce an early flowering- 
habit, should be very gently forced into bloom, and ought not at the commencement of 
the process to be compelled to develope their blossoms more than a fortnight earlier 
than they have been wont. The first attempt at forcing, in the hands of inex- 
perienced persons, will probably be a failure, but, notwithstanding this, the plants 
with which the experiment has been tried must not be abandoned. We style the 
process forcing, because in the outset compulsion is necessary, but afterwards force 
is altogether abandoned. If the first effort to procure early Camellia blooms should 
fail, either the management has not been right, or the plants are not in good health 
and vigour. Whatever may have been the cause, let the plants have their regular 
seasonal treatment, as though they had bloomed ever so well. They should be 
induced to make as strong and as early a growth as possible, and that growth ought 
to be quickly matured. 
Considerable progress will have been made the first season if proper attention 
has been directed to the points mentioned. The second year a similar course should 
be taken, only a greater degree of earliness should be aimed at ; and likewise the 
third year, which will be sufficient to establish the early blooming habit. October 
may generally be considered the commencement of the early blooming season. 
VOL. XIV. NO. CLXII. T 
