4 
GERBING'S AZALEA GARDENS 
Alba Fimbreata 
WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO WITH YOUR CAMELLIAS 
Do not plant them in wet soggy soil. Do not plant them too deep. Do not use fertilizers 
that will burn. Do not remove or loosen the burlap when planting. Do not lift a Camellia 
by the trunk; always pick it up by the burlapped ball. Do not spray your Camellias with 
oil spray in the fall or winter. This is important. Many fine plants have been killed with 
late spraying. Do not plant too near buildings or large shrubbery. Do not plant clay soil grown 
plants into loose porous soil as they will not give satisfactory results. Do not let them dry 
out completely nor drown them with too much watering. Do not water from a hose if using 
artesian water; rather use a sprinkler which aerates the water before entering the soil. Do 
not buy Camellias that look unhealthy though they are cheap. Unhealthy Camellias hardly 
ever recover. If you are not familiar with varieties do not buy unless there is a bloom so 
that you may see what you are buying. 
Grafted Camellias 
The understock used are from six to twelve years old; first year's growth averages from 
18" to 40", weil branched, with some having buds in the first year. Varieties available are 
only of the rarest and slowest of growers, since it is not profitable to graft common sorts. 
Grafted Camellias are much more vigorous when on own root system. They flower 
