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put in the pots for drainage, we would recommend broken potsherds, 
or the rough siftings of the compost. 
Messrs. Loddiges formerly used loam, with a little sand and peat, 
for most of the sorts, but latterly they find light loam alone to answer 
as well, or better. This shows that Camellias will grow in what is 
termed a good rich soil. If they are planted in a conservatory, the soil 
need not be very sandy; but if kept in pots, a moderate proportion of 
sand is absolutely necessary. 
PROPAGATION. 
This is usually performed by the several methods of seeds, layers, 
inarching or grafting, budding, and cuttings. 
By Seeds .—We have given a figure of the ripe capsule and seeds, 
in plate 1. They are sometimes very freely produced, but more so on 
certain kinds than on others. The Single-red, Aitoni, and the Wa- 
ratah, are the best we know for obtaining seed from. Curtis gives the 
following directions respecting the raising of Camellias from seed:— 
They should be sown in large pots, two inches apart. After they have 
been sown a week or two, and regularly kept moistened, so as to be 
nearly constantly damp, they should be plunged into a gentle bottom 
heat, of either tan or dung, until they are up; after which, they may 
be gradually inured to the air, and the following winter they may be 
potted separately into small pots, and kept with the other plants until 
they flower. Should any of them prove handsome, they are of course 
added to the collection, but if otherwise, they are set aside for stocks to 
graft on. 
By Layers .—For those who are not skilled in grafting, this is by 
far the best mode of propagating Camellias. It is also a ready way for 
obtaining good healthy plants of particular varieties, or of such as are 
cultivated for stocks. The plan which is usually pursued, is as follows; 
A frame is prepared, and filled with the proper Camellia compost. In 
the autumn, the sorts which it is intended to have stools of are selected, 
each turned out of its pot, and planted in the centre of the bed. The 
shoots which cannot be brought in a posture for laying, are to be cut 
off, and used for cuttings. The other shoots, of not more than two years 
