On the Chtltivation of the Came Ilia. 301 
loam. The peat and loam should be turfy, and ought not to be sifted, 
but chopped together with a spade, and should be rather coarse and 
lumpy; this will secure a free circulation to the water, and prevent, 
in some measure, the mischief arising from the matting of the roots. 
Mr. Sweet, has justly observed, that when the mould is sifted, it often 
bakes as hard as a brick, so that it is impossible for the roots to get 
through it. 
The best time for shifting the Camellia, is during the month of Fe- 
bruary, and the beginning of March ; and if it be advisable not to give 
the plant a larger pot, it should, however, be turned out, and a little of 
the earth taken from the top, bottom, and sides, of the ball, — then re- 
turned, and the pot filled with a little fresh compost, having first put 
some broken pot at the bottom. The earth must be removed gently 
from the ball, with the fingers, — not a root taken away, unless it be 
dead, — no cutting and paring the ball with the pruning-knife. In pot- 
ting, they must always be well drained. A top-dressing, would be of 
much benefit to the plants, — if given at the time of fixing them in 
their domicils for the winier. The surface should be often stirred with 
some instrument, that will not injure the roots, — .this will keep the 
earth light, and prevent the moss from collecting. 
A little artificial heat, during the growing season, would make the 
plants push strong and fine shoots ; — and if they are again put into a 
little heat, in the month of November, it will greatly forward the 
blossoms, and they will expand finer and better, than they might 
otherwise do; but in no case, should the plants be kept in heat, du- 
ring the flowering season ; — if so, the flowers will much sooner drop, 
than they would do in the temperature of the gi-een-house or conser- 
vatory, in which, they would continue in full beauty for a consider- 
able time. 
The CameUia, like the Orange, but in a much less degi ee, is sub- 
ject to the Scaly Bug, — the only effectiuil remedy, is to pick them off 
one by one with the nail, and rub the parts affected, with a little soft 
soap. The Green Fly, will sometimes attack the young green wood ; 
here, immediate smoking with tobacco, is the remedy. By frequently 
syringing the leaves during the summer, and washing them with a 
sponge, two or three time in the course of the winter, the health of the 
plants will be improved, the attacks of the insects prevented, and the 
beauty of the foliage shown to more advantage. 
I have now, Gentlemen, laid before you the results of my experi- 
ence in the cultivation of this beautiful genus ; and at the risk of being 
considered tedious, I have been rather minute ; — but in a communi- 
cation of this kind, elegance and conciseness,, should give way to sim- 
plicity and clearness of detail. 
Vol. I, No. 8. YY 
