47 
more than is usually given to green-house plants. If this heat is not 
given in November and December, the plants will not expand their 
blossoms freely ; and if both water and heat are not regularly applied 
after the blossoming season, vigorous shoots will not be produced. In 
summer they may either be set out of doors on a stratum of scoriae, or 
on a pavement in a sheltered but open situation. At all times atten¬ 
tion must be paid to watering them properly, the roots being very apt 
to get matted in the pots, so as to render the ball of earth impervious 
to moisture. Hence it is necessary to see that the water poured on the 
pots moistens all the earth, instead of the web of fibres only. This 
renders examining the roots, or reducing, and replanting them, at least 
once a year, a measure almost indispensable. 
The proper season for a general shifting is when the young growth 
has hardened, and the blossom buds for next year can be detected at 
the extremity of the shoots. After shifting all those that require it, 
they may be placed in the open air, or retained in the Camellia-house, 
admitting daily as much air as possible, and occasionally sprinkling 
them with water over the leaves. Where there are conveniences for 
giving the plants different degrees of temperature, a succession of flowers 
may be had during all the year; but their natural time of flowering is 
in the months of February, March, and April. They generally flower 
best when grown in small pots or tubs. Some of the sorts, such as the 
Double-white, Double-red, and Lady Hume’s Blush, are liable to shed 
their buds from no apparent cause; but we think it frequently arises 
from the plants being improperly watered, or exposed to too high a 
temperature. 
The most common disease which affects Camellias and renders 
them unsightly, is the curl in the leaves. This is occasioned by a small 
black insect, about the size of the green fly, and similar to it in its 
form. They generally make their appearance on the underside of the 
young leaves, in the months of April and May, and soon infest the 
whole of the plants in a collection, unless measures are speedily taken 
to destroy them. The shoots and leaves are often covered with then- 
excrescence, which is sw^et and viscid, resembling what is familiarly 
known by the name of lioney-dew. As soon as there is the least appear¬ 
ance of the insects upon the plants, the house should be subjected to a 
