304: ROOMS — CAMELLIAS. [December. 
tive gas that they derive from that element, if they are in a 
growing state. 
Camellias, when in bud and flower should never be 
allowed to become the least dry, neither confined from fresh 
air. The effects would be that the buds would become stint- 
ed, dry, and drop off. Therefore, to have these in perfec- 
tion, attend strictly to watering. G-ive frequent airings, and 
wash the leaves occasionally with water. Never keep them 
in a room where there is a strong coal fire. The most of 
Camellias will bear 3° of frost without the smallest injury, 
so that they are easier kept than Geraniums, except when 
they are in bloom. In that state frost will destroy the 
flowers. The air of a close cellar is also destructive to the 
buds. 
The reason that the Camellia does not bloom perfectly in 
parlours or other heated rooms is owing to their being too 
warm and arid, destroying the vital vegetative principle of 
the plant, and it soon perishes. There is one way in which 
these plants can be kept perfect even in such dry places when 
the recess in the windows is of sufficient depth as to allow 
plants to stand within it, enclosing them from the apartment 
by another sash : in such a situation, water could be placed, 
which would keep the atmosphere between the windows per- 
fectly moist. The verdure would be rich and the flowers 
brilliant; and- they would be completely protected from dust 
— the whole would have a very pleasing effect. Attention 
will be requisite to give them air during the mild part of the 
day. There are several Camellias not proper for room cul- 
ture; those which have dry brown scaly buds are to be 
avoided, such as anemonejiora, egertonia, deviana, fulgens, 
atrorubens ; also avoid icoodsii, chandlerii and dorsetia, 
as being difficult of expanding — they are so very full 
of petals. Those most proper for room culture are double 
white, eclipse, fimbriate/, imbricata, malijh>ra, pceomflora } 
Lanclrethii, Sacco, Sarah Frost, Washington, Madonna punc- 
tata, speciosa, variegata and incarnata. Such will be found 
to bloom freely and fully : many others might be added, but 
these will give an idea of those sorts that agree best with 
room culture. We cannot conclude our subject without 
giving our readers some hints on the effect of plants in 
household apartments. It has been proved that the leaves 
of plants absorb carbonic acid gas by their upper surfaces, 
