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grass turves from the above soils, intermixed, were turned grass-side down¬ 
wards over the rubble. Before planting the arrangement of the plants in the 
borders was settled on out of doors, in order to insure the colours, &c., being 
intermixed. Turning out was commenced at one end, by placing under each 
plant the requisite quantity of soil to bring the whole of their collars 8 or 
9 inches above the stone curb of the walk, which runs all round, in order to 
allow for the settling down of the soil. As the plants were turned out and 
arranged, men were employed wheeling in and filling up with the compost, 
treading and ramming it in between and about the plants till the whole was 
regularly filled up, and the border finished off. The plants of course were tied 
and trained to their trellises all round, and Oak stumps were cut out and driven 
in all round the outside of the centre border, a strong line being stretched all 
round them, in order to tie right and left all the plants in the centre border, 
bring them into shape, and fill the vacancies. All being so far completed, and 
the pavement, &c., washed clean, the engine was set to work morning and 
evening, and the plants kept well washed down for three or four weeks. 
Abundance of air was given, and the buds thinned; they soon became plump, 
and produced a fine show of bloom throughout the winter and spring. In the 
middle of April all the remaining blooms and bloom-buds were pulled off, and 
gentle heat given at night, there being the means for affording it in a very 
suitable way in the shape of three pipes running all round from a boiler that 
heats other houses. These hot-water pipes are under the footpath, with two 
rows of very neat iron gratings all round between the outside curb-stone and 
centre slab. Portland stone is the kind used, and it looks very nice when clean. 
The growth of the Camellias was something marvellous—such shoots and foliage. 
With a little heat, and thorough washing down with tepid water morning and 
evening for five or six weeks, they grew like Willows. 
When the intended growth is completed, and the buds formed, rest is 
allowed by shutting off the heat, and throwing open the sashes and doors night 
and day. When the buds become plump and too thick, we commence thinning 
in July, and from that time till September much thinning has now to be done, 
bushels of buds being taken off. The Camellias in the centre and the outside 
border soon got to the top of the house, plants running up and under the 
rafters, forming an arch overhead, and being a fine sight from September to 
the middle of April, when they are covered with thousands and tens of 
thousands of flowers. It is now years since they have so completely filled the 
house, and much pruning has to be done. We adopt the following method 
with great success. In the middle of April all bloom and buds are pulled off? 
and all the trellis plants are unfastened ; the whole of the plants are then 
pruned, thinned, all superfluous wood being removed, and well cut in where 
required. Fresh compost is added and forked in; good soakings of clear 
manure water are given; the whole of the plants are thoroughly washed down 
with a powerful engine; heat is turned on ; and the washing with the engine 
is continued morning and evening for about six weeks. The house is shut up 
early, and when full of vapour ; and aired like hothouse plants, their growth is 
marvellously rapid. When they are fairly started into growth, clear chimney- 
soot water is made use of pretty freely in washing down, and manure water 
given at the roots. In about five or six weeks the plants are like trees in a 
wood, meeting together over the walks, and having fine strong young wood, 
and large dark foliage. When forming their bloom-buds at the end of every 
shoot, washing down, heat, and waterings at the root are restricted to some 
extent, abundance of air being given night and day. They are washed well 
of a morning pretty often throughout summer, and water is given at the root 
occasionally when required. Bud-thinning is carried on till September or 
