Camellia Japonica 
Camellia Japonieas, in the Southern United 
States, where they are extensively grown as a gar¬ 
den shrub, are commonly known as Japonica. 
Camellias are not difficult to grow. Many fine 
old specimen plants are to be found scattered 
throughout the lower South, where they have been 
growing for years with but little care, and thriving 
on practically all types of land characteristics to the 
region. However, they prefer, and do best on a 
good, well drained soil that has a slight acid re¬ 
action. Good garden soil is suitable, but it can be 
made better by adding leaf mold and peat moss. In 
heavy, stiff soils a small quantity of sand is also 
beneficial. Leaf mold and peat help to maintain an 
acid condition and a mulch of leaves is good to re¬ 
tain moisture and to furnish plant food the next 
year. The addition of sand makes stiff soils more 
porous and provides better drainage. 
In most soils, especially on clay lands, cotton 
seed meal alone, or used with acid phosphate, is 
an excellent fertilizer. Other good fertilizing ma¬ 
terials which are likewise acid in their reaction are 
well rotted cow manure, tankage, castor pomace, 
sulphate of ammonia and muriate of potash. 
The Camellia is less subject to disease and insect 
enemies than most other evergreen shrubs, but 
sometimes the foliage it attacked by scales. When 
this occurs, they should be sprayed with a miscible 
oil preparation and care taken to thoroughly wet 
the underside of the leaves as well as the top. Volk 
used at the rate of 1 part to 50 parts of water has 
proven very effective. 
The Camellia is the handsomst and finest of all 
the broad leaved evergreen blooming plant for 
Southern gardens. It is long lived and its beauty 
and monetary value increases rapidly as the plants 
grow older. 
Alba Pleno: —Full double flower pure white wax¬ 
like, very regular, early and heavy bloomer; diffi¬ 
cult to propagate and slow of growth. This is prob¬ 
ably the best double white. Leaves are narrow, and 
pointed and somewhat crinkled. 
Mrs. Abby Wilder: —Peony shape white shaded 
flower and striped with pink. Good grower. 
Austin Pink: — Semi-double pink of medium size, 
stamen often intermixed with smaller petals in 
center. Compact, but fast grower. 
