November 28, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
195 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Amateurs’Garden, the - 199 
Apprentice System, the .. 199 
Aralia Sieboldi . 202 
Bpuvardias . 203 
Camellia, the . 195 
Celery, Sutton’s White 
Gem . 202 
Chrysanthemums and pub¬ 
lic favour. 202 
Chrysanthemum, Dr.Barrie 202 
Chrysanthemum, judging . 202 
Chrysanthemums in the 
open-air. 196 
Chrysanthemum Shows .. 204 
Cypripedium Godefroyse 
(illustrated) . 19S 
Dahlias and Chrysanthe¬ 
mums. 202 
Garden notes . 196 
Garden operations. 19S 
Horse-Radish culture - 202 
“ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”—B acon. 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1885. 
The Camellia as a Winter-flowering Plant. 
—It is at this season of tlie year and onwards 
until the genial influences of spring begin to 
make themselves felt, that this popular flower 
commands attention. Already some of the 
varieties are in flower, sharing with Chrysanthe¬ 
mums and other subjects the important service 
of making the conservatory gay at mid-winter. 
We are rushing on rapidly towards the shortest 
day and the dullest period of the year. The in¬ 
clement breath of winter has already swept over 
hill and dale, and in the open ground leaf and 
blossom are hastening to decay; but within, 
under glass and assisted by the helpful influ¬ 
ences of artificial heat, gardeners are becoming 
acquainted with the great variety in the shades of 
colour, the fine imbricated forms, and the waxy 
shell-like petals of a good flower of a Camellia. 
There is something about its exquisite and solid 
beauty that ensures admiration. 
What renders the Camellia so very desirable, 
and adds so much to its popularity, is the 
amount of cutting that it can be subjected to. 
In times past gardeners grudged the sacrifice of 
so much wood and foliage in cutting a flower, 
mainly because the shoot from which the point 
was cut was not likely to flower for some time 
to come. This was indeed a serious drawback, 
and might well act upon the minds of those 
who had a desire to see the plants full of flower 
every year But it has been found, by a simple 
process of wiring, that the flower which has a 
good calyx can be cut off without injuring a bud 
or leaf, and with two short pieces oft hin wire 
pierced through its base, it will remain in a 
bouquet quite as good and for nearly as long a 
period as those with the natural wood and 
leaves attached to them. 
It may be a matter for surprise to those un¬ 
acquainted with the cultivation of the Camellia 
how it is that such large plants exist, and appear 
in a very good state of health, that have only a 
small amount of soil, so to speak, to feed upon. 
The very leaves of the plant, from their large 
and glossy nature and thick substance, suggest 
gross roots. This is not the case. To overpot 
Camellia plants, unless attended with more than 
ordinary vigilance in the way of watering, is 
bad practice. In fact, it is well known that 
collections of plants seldom potted, if grown in 
good compost and the drainage is thoroughly 
efficient, are generally the most luxuriant and 
the most productive of flower buds. Small-sized 
portable plants are the better for being potted 
every second year, in larger-sized pots if necessary, 
or in either the same or lesser sizes, as the con¬ 
dition of the plants is revealed on examination. 
Large plants in tubs and pots require looking to 
only once in five or six years, according to size, 
and some have been known to grow and produce 
fine blooms that have had no re-potting for a 
much longer period. Apparently, the consti¬ 
tution of the plant harmonises with a com¬ 
paratively low diet, for if grown in too rich a 
soil, the roots will refuse to elongate or sub¬ 
divide themselves. On the contrary, if grown 
in a suitable compost, with proper drainage, in 
tough fibry loam and peat in nearly equal parts, 
with a sprinkling of sand to keep the whole 
porous, and if the temperature be right, the 
plants can scarcely fail to be all the cultivator 
could wish for. It is found that plants im¬ 
ported from the continent are chiefly grown in 
leaf soil and sand alone, and show no degree 
of suffering. Established plants, grown upon 
the principle stated above, are found to produce 
large full flowers. 
There are two things, however, of compara¬ 
tively greater value for ministering to a good 
state of health than even soil : they are, tem¬ 
perature and a proper degree of shade in summer. 
It is only during the season of growth that a 
high temperature and plenty of moisture are 
necessary. During the season of rest the plants 
may be kept only two or three degrees above 
the freezing-point, and they are better in such a 
temperature than in a house where the ther¬ 
mometer registers above 45°. They will even 
resist frost with impunity, and not be half so 
subject to bud-dropping as if in a high and dry 
heat. A temperature higher than this is not 
necessary until the plants have done blooming and 
the young wood commences to grow. Then a 
gradual rise may take place, and with it a pro¬ 
portionate degree of moisture at the roots and 
the atmosphere should be maintained until the 
buds are swelled up to the size of small Beans. 
If this is accomplished early in the season, so 
much the better will the chance be of the buds 
remaining on and expanding into bloom. When 
the plants have arrived at this stage, with their 
buds far advanced, they may be placed either 
out of doors in a situation sheltered from sun 
and wind, or in a house where there is no fire- 
heat. Some of the sorts will bloom as early as 
November, and if the collection be numerous 
and well managed, there should be no scarcity 
of flowers from that time till far on in April. 
Shading from the sun is a matter of the first 
importance. The younger leaves are not only 
impatient of the sun, but the old leaves get 
scorched quicker than almost any other hard- 
wooded plant we know. The conditions of 
success during the season of growth are heat, 
shade, and moisture. Camellias will do well 
under the shade of Vines, and in such a 
temperature as Vines require ; but it is much 
better to have a house to themselves, for what 
is gained by the Camellias when in a Vinery is 
often at the expense of the Vines and the crop 
of Grapes. 
Plants in bloom, or those about to flower, 
should have a warmer atmosphere than those 
not so forward. A little fire-heat every day, 
with the ventilators open at the top in favour¬ 
able weather, and occasionally at the bottom is 
desirable. Such sorts as the old double white, 
and all light coloured varieties, are better when a 
nice circulation of air takes place, as it is a good 
preventative to the iron-mould-like spots that 
invariably follow a close moist atmosphere. 
The plants must never be allowed to become 
too dry at the roots, or else bud-dropping, sooner 
or later, will take place ; but it is quite as bad 
practice to have the roots saturated with 
moisture, and equally destructive to the buds ; 
a good medium is what should be aimed at. It 
is very bad practice indeed that will cause the 
buds of sorts that have been early matured to 
fall off; but under the very best management 
during the flowering season the buds of those 
plants too long delayed in being put into 
heat, or subjected to a low uniform temperature 
will drop off. As to manure or guano water, 
it shoidd be applied very sparingly, and never 
during the short days when the system of the 
plant is least excited. No freshly potted plant 
requires any artificial liquid ; but such plants 
as have been growing for two or three years in 
the same pot, and the roots are so compact that 
they could not be disturbed with the point of a 
stick -with impunity, will be much benefited by 
a judicious application. 
-- 
GARDENING MISCELLANY. 
The Royal Gardens, Kew.—We understand that Sir 
J. D. Hooker has resigned his office of Director of the 
Royal Gardens, and that his connection with Kew will 
cease on Monday next. Sir Joseph succeeded his father 
in 1865, and it is generally anticipated that his son-in- 
law, Mr. Thiselton Dyer will be the next Director. 
The American Exhibition, 1886.—Mr. John Robin¬ 
son Whitley, Director-General of the American Exhi¬ 
bition, to be held next May at Earl’s Court, Kensington, 
had an audience on Monday with President Cleveland, 
who assured Mr. Whitley of his most cordial sympathy 
with the objects of the American Exhibition, and ex¬ 
pressed the pleasure it would afford him to start the 
machinery, by telegraph, from Washington on the day 
of opening. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—At a meeting of 
the floral committee of this society held on Wednesday, 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, were awarded a 
First Class Certificate for a very handsome Japanese 
variety, named Beauty of Swanley, a full regular shaped 
flower, silvery white with a suffusion of pale peach 
colour. The same firm also showed a beautiful stand of 
cut blooms of Japanese, reflexed, anemone-flowered and 
single varieties, but the light was so bad that they were 
seen under very disadvantageous conditions. A single 
variety named Queen of Yellows, a good rich colour all 
through, and a very fine unnamed seedling reflexed 
variety, were much admired. Mr. N. Davis, of 
Camberwell, and Mr. Robert Owen, of Maidenhead, ex¬ 
hibited fine cut blooms of a number of new introductions, 
and First Class Certificates were awarded to both 
exhibitors for Belle Pauline, one of last years novelties 
in the Japanese section, and which by reason of its fine 
size, and delicate blush tinted rose colour, has already 
become a favourite. Rubra perfecta, a deep maroon 
coloured reflexed flower shown by Mr. FT. Davis was com¬ 
mended as a decorative variety ; as was also Sulphur 
Gem shown by Mr. Stevens of Putney, a reflexed flower 
in the style of Annie Salter. Some doubts having 
arisen as to what section the rich crimson coloured 
Cullingfordi belonged to, Mr. Davis brought up some 
specimens, and the committee decided that it was a re¬ 
flexed variety. 
Mr, Bennett's New Rose, Her Majesty.— Mr. Charles 
F. Evans, of Philadelphia, U. S. A., who purchased the 
stock of this magnificent rose from Mr. Bennett, an¬ 
nounces his intention of sending it out next month. 
Yeovil Chrysanthemum Show,—In our report of this 
show at p. 190, we inadvertently failed to render full 
justice to our esteemed correspondent, Mr. Ward, of 
Longford Castle, whom we credited only with being 3rd 
in one class, whereas, the Longford Castle flowers 
secured I st prizes in three out of the four classes in 
which they were shown. 
Gardening Engagements.-Mr. G. Hoskins as gar¬ 
dener to Sir G. Curtis Lampson, Bart., Oakfaeld, 
Clapham, S. W. ; Mr. Sparkes as gardener to Captain 
Elliott, Farnborough Park, Hants ; Mr. Turner as 
gardener to W. L. Sutton, Esq., Belmont Hill, Lea, 
S E. The apointment in each case was made through 
Messrs. John Laing & Co. 
Thri p s . —In a paper on Thrips read at the last meeting 
of the Sale Botanical Society, Mr. Cameron said they 
were minute insects distinguished from others by the 
mouth parts being converted into a sort of two-valved 
syphon, by means of which they suck the juices of the 
plants ; by the tarsus ending in a vesicle not bearing 
claws ; and by the four wings being without nerves. 
Hooker, Sir J. D., resigna¬ 
tion of . 195 
National Chrysanthemum 
Society. 195 
Orchids, collecting and 
packing. 203 
Pear Congress, the late .. 202 
Pelargonium, the Zonal .. 196 
Primulas, Chinese. 200 
Scottish Gardening . 19S 
Sponge, hanging gardens of 199 
Stephanotis floribunda, 
fruiting. 202 
Strawberries, in pots, win¬ 
tering . 201 
Thorpe, John .. 196 
Thrips . 195 
Tuberoses at Strathfieldsaye 204 
Veitch’s, Messrs., Nursery. 197 
Violets for winter bloom- 
incr ...... 200 
