56 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
be well protected from the wind, and shaded from the hot sun. If the weather be 
very dry and hot after the plants are placed out of doors, they should be well 
syringed occasionally in the evening; it will greatly benefit them. I think it 
necessary to remark that the plants when set out of doors should always be placed 
on flags, tiles, bricks, or boards; they should never be put in the soil, as worms 
soon get in and stop the drainage, and then the soil soon becomes wet and sour, 
and the plants become sickly. It also saves watering and protects the fine roots 
if the pots can be plunged in rotten leaves or tan. If the weather be fine the 
plants may remain out of doors until the end of September, but when heavy rains 
prevail in September, the plants will be better housed. 
Period of Flowering. —The greatest attention is necessary during the whole 
of this period. The plants that have been kept in the conservatory or greenhouse 
all the season will not require much artificial heat to expand the blossoms, but 
they will need liberal supplies of water, and will be much benefited by an occa¬ 
sional good soaking with liquid manure, especially large plants in tubs. The 
falling off of the blossom-buds instead of expanding into flower, is the frequent 
cause of complaints. Too much dryness at the roots is one of the principal causes 
of the buds falling off. If the blossom-buds are perfect, and the plants are well 
watered, they will all expand properly; but it sometimes happens that many buds 
which outwardly appear right are not perfect, and in consequence invariably drop 
off, no matter how well the plants may have been watered. Anything like a 
parched dry atmosphere and a high temperature must be carefully guarded against 
during the period of blooming. The plants do best with plenty of air at all favour¬ 
able opportunities, and in a temperature a little above freezing, and a rather moist 
atmosphere, and the blossom-buds expand better and remain longer on the plants, 
and the succession of flowers is also much longer. When the plants that have 
stood out of doors are being housed, if those having the fullest, boldest, and most 
prominent buds are placed at the warmest end of the conservatory or greenhouse, 
and kept a little close, they will come nicely into flower after those that were in¬ 
doors all the summer; and if the plants with the smallest and least prominent 
buds are placed at the coolest end of the house, and have abundance of air given 
them, they will come into flower after the others, and will thus prolong the period 
of flowering late into the spring. After the plants have done flowering, they should 
be kept well syringed, and be regularly watered, when they require it; but the 
temperature should on no account be increased until all the wood-buds have fairly 
pushed. 
Period of Growth. —When growth has fairly commenced, the temperature 
should be raised to about from 50° to 55° at night, and to about from 60° to 65° 
by day, with an increase of 10° or 15° by sun heat. The atmosphere should be 
kept rather close and moist, giving air with moderation and caution in the morn¬ 
ing, and closing up early in the afternoon; a light syringing overhead morning 
and evening will benefit the plants. Water must be freely given when required. 
Forming of the Blossom-buds. —When the young shoots have ceased 
growing, a higher temperature and a drier atmosphere must be maintained, and 
more air must be given in order to promote the formation of the blossom-buds. 
The temperature should now range from 55° to 60° by night, and 05° to 70° by 
day, and be accompanied with a greater circulation of air, and no more water than 
is absolutely necessary should be given. Under this treatment perfect blossom- 
buds will be formed, which in due time will expand into beautiful flowers. We 
now arrive at the point we started from—the season for repotting. All plants 
that require shifting should at once be |iut into larger pots, and undergo the same 
treatment they did the previous season. 
I cannot close this hasty sketch without expressing a wish that the Camellia 
will receive a greater share of attention than it has in general of late years. I 
yield to none in my admiration of Ferns and fine-foliaged plants, and I would 
have them grown by all means; but whilst doing so let us not forget the Camellia. 
I can hardly conceive anything more beautiful than a fine large healthy plant of 
the old Double White Camellia in the depth of winter, with its hundreds of 
exquisite flowers expanded. 
Stourton. 
M. Saul. 
