November 29, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
467 
attractive when seen on the bushes, and when cut and placed in glasses 
in sitting-rooms or on the dinner table they have always a charming 
appearance. By starting the plants into growth early in the season 
there is no difficulty in having them in bloom in August and September ; 
but unless there is some very special object in having them then it is 
best not to flower them quite so early, as Camellias are undoubtedly 
more winter than autumn flowers, and their value at that season 
cannot be over-estimated. A few of our blooms have opened during 
October, but the bulk of them are to come, and we will now induce 
them to open as well and regularly as possible. No attempt should be 
made to force any small plant which has only been budded for two 
or three years, and it is a mistake to give any but the most natural 
treatment to sickly plants. Small plants crowded with bloom are very 
beautiful, but it injures them to cut many of the blooms from them, 
especially if a good piece of wood is taken with each bloom, and 
the best of all to cut flowers from are large established plants. 
Camellias planted out in beds always make much more wood than 
plants in pots, and those wishing to secure and cut large quantities 
of bloom throughout the winter should try to have a number of planted- 
out specimens to work with ; but however they may be grown now, the 
object will be to obtain flowers, and it is on this point I will write. 
Camellias are not like many softwooded plants. They will not be 
forced into flower rapidly by a brisk heat and in a humid atmosphere, 
and if many liberties are taken with them three parts of the buds may 
fall without showing the slightest sign of swelling or making any attempt 
to open. This habit, as habit it undoubtedly is with many plants, 
puzzles not a few, especially of amateur growers, and it is generally 
produced by some sudden change of treatment. Excessive dryness at 
the roots is one fertile cause of bud-dropping. A long period of dryness 
is not necessary to accomplish this. Once for a few days is quite 
enough, but no Camellias should ever become too dry that are constantly 
under the care of one person. It is only through carelessness that 
excessive dryness occurs as a rule. If the pots or borders in which 
Camellias are growing are well drained and the soil is in a sweet 
condition, it is almost impossible to injure them with water at the 
root, and the danger of giving them too much need never be taken 
as an excuse for giving them too little. Camellias have a decided 
dislike to a dry atmosphere, and this will make the leaves curl and 
the buds become brown. 
In houses where there is no artificial heat there is of course no danger 
of this occurring, but where they are close to the hot-water pipes, and 
especially to old brick flues, as they still are in many old conservatories, 
the greatest care must be taken to keep the atmosphere humid. It need 
not be steaming, nor should a hot flue be damped to give off much 
moisture all at once, but the bushes should be syringed daily, and when 
the blooms are open and the branches cannot be syringed without spoiling 
the flowers, the bottom foliage near the ground should be damped amt 
the surface of the soil under the trees should always be moist. We 
attach the utmost importance to this syringing, and we would advise all 
to practise it now and continue with it.—M. M. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
I hope it will not be thought from what I have written on page 402 
that I wish to cast any reflections on anyone connected with the manage¬ 
ment of this Society, as such was far from my intention, neither did I 
write on behalf of my friend. I merely stated the case, thinking, as I 
said at the time, that it had been treated quite in accordance with the 
Society’s rules, and as an example of the information I wanted to get for 
others’ benefit as well as my own, as I know many gardeners could better 
afford to pay down a sum of ten guineas at once than to keep up an 
annual subscription of one guinea until they are sixty years of age if each 
gave equal advantages. I am very pleased to hear from Mr. Bardney that 
they do so, consequently the mistake was not made by my friend when 
he paid his subscription, as I was afraid it was. As soon as I can get the 
information required from my friend 1 will forward it to Mr. Cutler, 
when he will be able to see where the mistake has occurred.— 
W. H. Diveks, Burghley. 
MUSA ROSACEA. 
This species is a native of the Mauritius, and is very ornamental in 
the stove, though, no doubt, it might also be grown in the open air during 
the summer months. M. rosacea, like the beautiful M. coecinea, does not 
belong to that section of this genus which is prized for its fruit-hearing 
qualities. Its estimable features are a noble habit, handsome flowers, and 
a growth from 10 to 15 feet in height. These plants are stemless, although 
they are generally described by the majority of people as having stout and 
tall stems, which in reality are composed of the very long and compact 
sheathing bases of the leaves. The blade of the leaf in the species here 
figured is dark green and oblong, with a prominent midrib. The bracts of 
the flowers—the special objects of attraction in this plant, are a beautiful, 
long-lasting, rosy pink, and, combined with the noble appearance of its 
leaves, produce a splendid effect in any group of plants with which it may 
be arranged. I would strongly urge upon every grower of stove plants 
who does not already possess this Musa, to add it at once to his collection, 
if sufficient height can be allowed for its accommodation. 
The cultivation of these plants is extremely simple. When young pot 
them in about equal parts of good rich loam, well-decomposed manure, 
and leaf mould, with a little sharp river or silver sand added. After they 
have attained to some size a little less manure should be given, for as fruit 
is not expected of them, the withholding of a little nutriment will only 
induce them to flower earlier. They enjoy copious waterings, and in the 
case of the fruiting varieties liquid manure is extremely beneficial, though 
I have never used it for this species. 
In a young state M. rosacea forms a beautiful object for the decoration 
of apartments, and even when it grows too large for vases in the drawing¬ 
room, it may be used with advantage for halls or staircases, or when any 
Fig. 93.—Musa rosacea. 
special decorations for grand parties are required. This species is not used 
[ economically in any way, but several of this genus are extremely useful. 
One in particular, M. textilis, yields what is known as the Manilla Hemp, 
and is largely cultivated in the Philippine and other islands for its fibre. 
The finest portion of this is used for shawls.—W. H. G-. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
WIMBLEDON, NOVEMBER 20th. 
With the small amount of funds at their disposal it is surprising what 
an excellent display is annually made at Wimbledon, and this season it was 
more than usually attractive. Mr. Lyne, gardener to A. Schlusser, Esq. 7 
Belvedere, filled the whole of the platform of the Lecture Hall with a 
magnificent group of miscellaneous plants, consisting of Palms, Dracaenas, 
and other fine-foliage plants, with a number of Calanthes set m a giound- 
work of Ferns. This group was the admiration of everyone. Mr. Thompson, 
The Wimbledon Nursery, also staged a well-arranged group of ornamental- 
foliaged plants, which was much admired. This, as well as the Belvedere 
collection, was not for competition. 
