October 18. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
31 
■with a cover of glazed waterproofed calico, or even 
oiled paper, until it was far enough advanced to be 
set in a sheltered place, there to stand until you want 
it for the window at this time next year. But with 
the box, every thing is easily managed. All you 
have to do is to take the plant to it shortly after it 
has finished flowering, and after you have pruned it, 
if getting too large. If there is a little sweet ferment¬ 
ing-matter in the box, the camellia will like it all the 
better, but you must always have a little air on, and 
he careful the sun does not strike upon the foliage 
when it is moist. But, without artificial heat, the 
box will render good service merely by keeping the 
atmosphere moist and close until fresh growth is 
produced, and then the plant may he set out as be¬ 
fore stated. The camellia would do without all this, 
and really it seems troublesome to be at so much 
pains about it, but the labour will not be half so 
much as you would imagine from my cumbrous way 
of telling about it; and then you must recollect that 
the same treatment we have recommended for the 
camellia will do for scores of things besides. If you 
can manage two plants, then we would advise the 
double red and the double white , if only one, choose 
the last, as it is the easiest to manage, and a beauti¬ 
ful gem it is. I have often thought that botanists, 
in their rage for changing names, might have exer¬ 
cised their ingenuity on the genus camellia, for, while 
we have rhododendron (from rhodon, a rose, and den- 
dron, a tree) applied to a family bearing but Slight 
resemblance to a rose, I know of no family more 
worthy of the appellation of rose-trees than fine dou¬ 
ble camellias, but, unfortunately, though possessing 
the beauty, they want the odour of the queen of 
flowers. 
Our space is so nearly full that I can only allude 
at present to other matters, which, however, do not 
demand instant attention. 
Propagating the Camellia. —This is generally 
done by cuttings of the single red made in. August. 
Every wood-bud with a leaf attached makes a cutting; 
when strong enough they are inarched or grafted. 
If the latter, the two-light box, with a little ferment¬ 
ing matter, or a spare corner in a cucumber box, will 
just be the place for them. 
Soil. —Equal parts of peat and loam will grow 
them admirably. If loam is used by itself, it should 
be of a light sandy nature. A little leaf-mould or 
dried cow-dung will improve the foliage, but if given 
plentifully the flowers will not be so abundant. 
When necessary we should prefer rich top-dressing, 
and using clear manure-water, when the plants were 
making their wood. 
Shifting and Potting should be done just when 
the plants begin to push after flowering, or when the 
points of the shoots begin to harden after growth is 
finished. We prefer the first period for those in¬ 
tended to flower early in winter. Plants that have 
attained some size will bloom as well if merely top- 
dressed and not shifted every year, but then the 
drainage must be all right. 
Watering. —Water should be given rather spar¬ 
ingly, as the glossy green foliage prevents very rapid 
evaporation, except when the plants are making their 
fresh growth and when the flower-buds are expand¬ 
ing, when a more liberal supply will be wanted. 
Sprinkling over the foliage when growing, and a little 
clear manure-water at the roots at times, will be very 
acceptable. R Eish. 
HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
EXOTIC ORCHIDACErE. 
House for Orchids. —Whenever a zealous culti¬ 
vator of plants receives any from a foreign country, 
it is his first inquiry, “ What are the temperature, the 
moisture, and the seasons of growth in the country 
from whence I have received these plants?” And, 
according to the information he may obtain, what¬ 
ever source he may consult, whether books or travel¬ 
lers, or from knowledge he may already possess, he 
will treat his plants, as far as he possibly can, with 
heat and moisture similar to that from whence they 
have been transported. Now the orcliidaceie are a 
tribe of plants chiefly from hot tropical countries. 
The greater part of them grow on trees; some on the 
stems, others at the points where the branches start 
from the stem; a third group grow near the top of 
the tree, whilst some delight in its most shady part. 
Another point to remember is that the light of tro¬ 
pical regions is most intense, and that the days and 
nights are nearly equal. There is also in those coun¬ 
tries a dry season and a wet season, and these alter¬ 
nate in some places more than once a year. Num¬ 
bers of those plants, and some of the best kinds too, 
are found in more temperate climes. We have been 
assured by Mr. Skinner, a gentleman who resided 
several years in South America, that he has fre¬ 
quently seen hoar-frost on such plants as Gattleya 
iSlcinnerii, L ycastes of sorts and others, natives of that 
region. Bearing these facts in our minds, what kind 
of house or houses will be the best to grow these 
wonderful plants in? Now, as they require great 
light, we say that the house ought to be glass, so 
placed as to catch all the rays of light from the sun. 
A span-roofed one will do so, or, to the greatest de¬ 
gree ; therefore, a span-roofed house necessarily will 
be the best form. As these plants grow on branches 
of trees, let the house be low in the angle, so that the 
plants, whether in pots or baskets, or on logs of wood, 
will all be near to the glass. The house, then, must 
be span-roofed and low. The next consideration is 
the aspect. We find the best is for the roof to fall 
due east and west; then the lengtliway of the house 
will, of course, be north and south. There are seve¬ 
ral substantial reasons why this aspect is to be pre¬ 
ferred. In the first place, the heat and light of the 
sun are more equalised. In the cold mornings of 
early spring the sun will sooner give light and heat 
on the east side, and will be at noon in such a posi¬ 
tion that his beams will be slanting to the angle of 
the roof, whilst in the afternoon his power to give 
light and heat will be considerably prolonged. Every 
plant in the house will thus have its due share of light 
and heat. During the hot months of May, June, 
July, and August, the shade or blind can be let down 
on the morning side of the house, drawn up at noon, 
and let down on the afternoon side just as the sun 
shines; thus giving the plants all the light possible, 
and at the same time protecting them, their leaves, 
and delicate flowers, from the burning rays of the 
sun. Now, suppose the house was a lean-to, as it is 
termed, that is, a glazed shed facing the south and 
leaning against a wall on the north, the sun would 
shine on this house with the greatest power in the 
middle of the day; the shade must be put on all 
over the roof at once, and for four or five or more 
hours the plants would be in comparative darkness. 
We think that every reader will perceive that the 
span-roofed, low, east-and-west house, must be, in 
theory, the best, and we have proved it so in practice. 
