556 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t December 29, 1887. 
fluctuates so greatly, that the prices for certain articles 
may be 50 per cent, lower to-morrow than they rule to-day. 
Nor does that fully represent the case and the difficulty, 
for it is not unusual for a variation of from 20 per cent, 
to 40 per cent, to be observed in three hours. Ordinary 
gardeners selling the surplus produce which they grow 
are placed at an enormous disadvantage with trade growers, 
who are so to say on the spot, and make their forecasts 
accordingly. It is well that these facts be made known, 
and they are mentioned with the object of reducing mis¬ 
understandings between master and man, and preventing 
in some measure disappointment to both in the coming 
year. This is a great subject, which must be dismissed at 
present with the remark, which is more accurate than all 
the price lists, that it is practically useless to send second 
and third-rate produce, the surplus of private gardens, to 
Covent Garden Market. 
Taking a broad glance over the world of gardening 
it is gratifying to observe the great interest that is 
manifested in the introduction of whatever renders the 
pursuit more agreeable and satisfying, also in everything 
that tends to promote superior culture. It is true we 
have had no grand national or international horticultural 
exhibitions during the year to absorb universal attention ; 
nor are they needed for affording evidence of the existence 
of a deep and widespread sympathy with the work in 
which readers of this Journal are engaged. A growing 
tendency to decentralisation is apparent in the repre¬ 
sentation of horticulture. District vies with district and 
province with province more and more, each striving, and 
properly so, to attain the greater excellence, hence the 
spirit with which local associations are promoted and 
provincial shows encouraged; and taking these into con¬ 
sideration, and they cannot be left out, an aggregate is 
arrived at, both as regards the number and value of the 
prizes competed for and the character of the produce 
exhibited that has not been excelled, if equalled, in any 
previous year. 
Greater zeal than ever seems to be apparent among 
the working bees in the hive of horticulture, in the 
formation of gardeners’ improvement associations, which 
have more enrolled members than at any previous time. 
This is most creditable to British gardeners, and an 
unique feature in domestic service. We find no improve¬ 
ment societies organised by footmen, butlers, coachmen, 
and gamekeepers, with the object of rendering them¬ 
selves more competent in their vocations. This is peculiar 
to gardeners, and we claim for them merited recognition. 
Every inducement should be given for probationers to 
join in those assemblages, first as listeners, then as con¬ 
tributors of matter for discussion. These mutual im¬ 
provement meetings are true “ schools of gardening ” that 
cannot fail to be the means of spreading knowledge, made 
sound by close sifting, and therefore beneficial to those 
who have the opportunity for acquiring it. 
In numerous other ways, and through other agencies, 
that will probably be brought under review by qualified 
observers, the closing year denotes advance rather than 
retrogression in the delightful and important pursuit of 
horticulture; and though we cannot forget those who 
have laboured so long and so well, and now called to 
their rest, we can rejoice in veterans still with us, and in 
the uprising of young men who will creditably join in the 
furtherance of that in which writers, readers, and editors 
are mutually engaged—the art of cultivation. 
A consciousness of the exercise of honest effort, the 
accomplishment of good work, and the recognition and 
appreciation of commendable endeavour, convert into 
reflective pleasure the toils o r the past, making for those 
who have striven to that end what it is hoped they have 
just enjoyed 
A Merry Christmas. 
CAMELLIAS IN MIDWINTER. 
Now that Chrysanthemums are over and many other flowers 
recently plentiful are becoming scarce, Camellias are rising in value, 
and a good supply at midwinter will give the greatest satisfaction, 
whether the flowers are for home decoration or market purposes. 
So far as I can judge at present the summer and autumn of 1887 
suited them admirably, as the bushes made good growth and formed 
abundance of flower buds, which are opening freely. Some growers 
cause their Camellias to bloom in October and November, but the 
flowers are not so valuable then as now, as other flowers, both in the 
open and under glass, are moderately plentiful in those months, and 
the Camellias do not open so well then as at this time. A bush 
that might only open four or five dozen flowers in October would 
readily develope three times that number at present, and although it 
may be considered early for a full display of Camellias, they are by- 
no means unseasonable now, and all will develope readily. I do not 
like the idea of forcing Camellias, as this term is applied to vegeta¬ 
tion generally. It may suit in some cases where the plants are 
growing in structures heated with hot water and where the tem¬ 
perature and atmosphere can always be kept agreeable, but forcing- 
does not suit them well in houses heated with flues, and in all cases 
the less artificial heat applied to them the better. In some years we 
have tried to force them by giving them plenty of heat in November 
and early winter months, as it i3 important that we have them in> 
bloom in December and January, and after that we have generally 
discontinued the fire heat, with the result that many buds fell with 
the artificial heat, but when left cool they immediately ceased falling 
and the flowers came out well. Iam referring to plants growing iu 
a structure heated with a flue, but as the weather has been very 
mild with us of late we have not put the fire on and the flowers are- 
opening more freely than we ever saw them in December. We 
have therefore no difficulty in seeing that where the buds are well 
forward they open best at present without artificial heat. 
Camellia buds falling is an annoyance which almost all culti¬ 
vators experience, but some to a greater extent than others. It is 
occasionally produced by natural causes ; but, as a rule, by mis¬ 
management. Excessive fire heat will cause it, and so will excessive 
dryness at the roots. Plants with their pots full of roots are very 
liable to suffer. They may be watered most carefully always, bu.t 
a slight dryness once or twice, which is liable to occur' sometimes in 
cases where no neglect was intended, is often sufficient to bring 
them off, especially if it happens when they are of a good size ov 
about to open. If the pots can be plunged some little time before 
the plants are expected to bloom, it is a great advantage, and the 
greatest care should be exercised in watering when the critical time 
arrives. If they occupy a conservatory where the hot-water pipes 
may be under the shelves on which they stand they would be much 
better moved from there and placed on or in a bed, if such exist, 
as their surroundings there will be more cool and conducive to their 
success. Where they are planted out the greatest care should be 
taken that the border is moist. If the soil is well drained it is 
almost impossible to give too much water when the plants are 
coming into flower and throughout that period. A close atmosphere 
is not in their favour, and as the atmosphere of most greenhouses 
and conservatories is kept closer now than further on in the better 
spring months, extra caution is necessary to prevent the atmosphere 
being too close, but by admitting a little fresh air in the best part 
of fine days this evil may be readily remedied. Damping the foliage 
with the syringe to moisten and soften the buds is more necessary 
in cases where fire heat is used than where that is dispensed with, 
but in times of severe weather, when fire heat must be used, they 
should be moistened once daily, but avoid letting the water fall on 
the pipes or the flue and give them a steam bath, as this is never 
acceptable to them. 
Beginners in Camellia culture sometimes buy small plants from 
a nursery during the summer or autumn and expect these to bloom 
freely at Christmas, but there is no gain in such a practice, as small 
plants are much better not forced in any way, and if they are kept 
back and not allowed to flower until the spring months, say Easter, 
they will improve quickly, and become larger much sooner than if 
they flowered at midwinter. Hardly anyone grows Camellias to 
bloom at this season without desiring to cut the flowers, and they 
are rarely taken off without a portion of growth being taken with 
them. This is often more advantageous than harmful in the case 
of large bushes, but where the plants are small and in pots it 
frequently checks them severely. The best way of dealing with 
