
the plant and allowed to wash in the soil, with- 
out being cultivated. Rotted cow manure is 
good, also, provided the soil is sufficiently acid, 
or, if it is not, provided aluminum sulphate is 
mixed with it to make the soil acid. Azaleas 
may be fertilized with commercial fertilizers 
having an acid reaction, but it is very necessary 
to use great care, because most of the roots are 
near the surface, and are easily burned. 
A spray consisting of one gallon of water, three 
level tablespoons of Volck, or other white oil 
emulsion, three level tablespoons of Derris 
powder, and one teaspoon of Black Leaf 40 
will take care of any of the insects and scales 
that affect azaleas. The spraying should be 
done just after the blooming season in the Spring, 
and repeated at intervals of not less than three 
weeks, until the trouble has been remedied. It 
is of course necessary to apply the spray with 
force and directly on the part that is affected, 
which in most instances is on the bottom of the 
leaves and in the forks of the twigs. 
CAMELLIAS 
Camellias will grow and prosper under widely 
varying conditions as to soil and temperature, 
but it is absolutely essential that they have good 
drainage. It is useless to plant a camellia at 
any place where the water will stand after a 
hard rain. They will grow in almost dense 
shade and in the full sun. Camellias will stand 
a good deal of severe weather, if the cold comes 
gradually and the plants have an opportunity 
to harden up before the first severe freeze. One 
winter we had a sustained cold spell in Mobile 
for a period of more than a week, during which 
time the temperature was as low as twelve de- 
grees above zero. None of our camellias was 
damaged by the cold, and they bloomed perfect- 
ly thereafter. However, an early severe freeze, 
while the growth is still rather tender, will 
probably cause damage to the buds. 
Camellias, like azaleas, prefer an acid soil, but 
will stand a broader variation of soil, and will 
grow well even if the soil is just slightly acid. 
Camellias are subject to several forms of scale 
which can be easily controlled by spraying. A 
spray of one gallon of water, three level table- 
spoons of Volck, or other white oil emulsion, 
Soe 
