A Camellia may sell readily if called “ELIZABETH” or “TEUTONIA”, 
or some other fanciful name. If the true horticultural name was known, 
revealing poor flowering habits, the chances are nobody would buy it and 
the nurseryman would have it on his hands. 
Camellia “ELIZABETH” as sold by hiany nurserymen in this section 
is an example of a variety that has many aliases. One large general 
nurseryman in this vicinity has propagated this variety and sold it under 
such various names as “KENNEDY’S VARIEGATED”, “DAVIS 
VARIEGATED” and “ELIZABETH”, while in the past two seasons he offers 
it under the dual names of “ELIZABETH” and “TEUTONIA”. 
Yet this is but one example of twelve misnamed Camellias he catalogues, 
besides certain popular varieties he describes in his price list, but which 
he does not grow nor have available for sale. 
What can you expect when you buy Camellias under wrong labels? 
A Connecticut florist recently wrote us: “Camellia ELIZABETH that we 
bought from a nursery near you was absolutely worthless in our opinion. 
We discarded it, after trying to get good flowers off it for two years.” 
This same florist told us he destroyed 300 Camellias bought under the 
name of “SOPHIA”, which were not true to name. Through Oriental 
duplicity, countless varieties of worthless Camellias are catalogued and sold, 
masquerading under assumed names, names that are as meaningless as 
Japanese apologies, which mean precisely nothing. 
There is a staggering amount of ignorance today in the nursery trade 
concerning Camellias. What the average nurseryman does not know about 
this species of plant is monumental. His smattering acquaintance with 
Camellia types, forms, size of flowers, traits, color, variations, manner of 
flowering, history and points of each named variety, and Camellia culture, 
not only falls short of his own needs but leads to deception of his customers. 
Is it any wonder Camellia buyers are indignant when they discover they 
have bought choice named varieties that turn out to be merely common sorts 
entirely unlike what they expected? 
AUTHORITIES FOR CORRECT HORTICULTURAL NAMES OF 
CAMELLIAS 
Perhaps you would like to know whei'd authoritative names for 
Camellias may be obtained. Where true descriptions, colored plates and 
authentic historical data on this interesting" plant can be found. 
Like a doctor, lawyer or engineer, the flower lover must consult books— 
books written many years ago—books that are not to be found in the average 
public library—books, unfortunately, priced so high as to place them beyond 
the reach of nurserymen as well as of the average person interested in 
Camellias. 
^urn ^ack ^he 
T^ages of history 
Here at LONGVIEW we 
have these books. A six- 
foiit, fireproof safe chuok 
full of rare old tomes, pub¬ 
lished 90 to more than 150 
years aeo. They are In French, Latin, German, Italian 
and English, with hundreds of beautiful illustrated 
plates in color, showing popular Camellia flowers with 
historical descriptions, cultural data and other 
information. ••if one wlslies to be uc(|uiiiiite<l willi 
the I'nst and I’resent, he must rend five 
(•nrthmilK of books.'’ 
—I'hinese Proverb. 
It is of no use writing to ask where you can buy such books. There 
is no concern that regularly lists them. We get many letters of inquiry 
from customers interested in Camellias who want literature on the subject. 
Some of them think we might lend our rare volumes out like a public library; 
but that would be to risk losing them or having them destroyed. Now and 
then you might obtain a copy of some desired volume from Europe, if you 
keep in touch with dealers in rare books, and cable them promptly when 
they list something of interest. 
In 1937 there was offered for sale in England a monograph on Camellias 
published before 1820. We wrote seeking further information and found 
ihe volume had just been sold for $900 to somebody In the United States. 
We possess the text of that particular volume but not the colored plates. 
These old books on Camellias, with their accuracy of description, their 
remarkable and beautiful illustrated plates in color accompanying the 
descriptions, as compared with present-day careless nomenclature, brief 
and unintelligent descriptions and the confused mass of contradictions in 
names of varieties offered, are sufficient evidence that few nurserymen know 
or appreciate Camellias. 
The Federal Trade Commission made, 
this year, a new ruling with the force 
of law to discourage misleading 
statements in advertising and selling 
interstate. Under this rule you may 
bring charges against the nurseryman 
who has misled you. If you have 
bought misnamed or falsely described 
Camellias since June 1, 1938, we will 
be glad at your request to lend our aid in any federal 
prosecution, if you will furnish reliable facts showing that 
you have been deceived in your purchase of labeled Camellias. 
Hahira, Ga.. 1-25-37. — "So few 
nurserymen know very much about 
('amellias. As 1 go about, I find them 
selling the same plant under different 
names, and 1 doubt that they are honest 
with themselves and their customers. 
They are like me, they just don’t know," 
.Norfolk. \'a . March 5, IIIDT.—"I have 
si veral ('amellias purchased from a nearby 
nursery and find tliem badly misnamed, 
tiiough they came originally from a 
nursery that has connecteil with it one 
who has written a book on the suliject. 
"Have enjoyed .vour catalogues on 
(■'amellias as 1 feel that you are trying to 
b(‘ correct in your names." K.A.L. 
