

DEBUTANTE 
New Camellias from the Middleton Place 
Located on the Ashley River, near Charleston, S. C., is the famous Middle- 
ton place, often spoken of as Middleton Gardens. This old plantation, laid 
out in the French style nearly 200 years ago, is famous for its magnificent 
old trees, its Azalea-bordered lawns, and its shadowy a//ees of old Camellias. 
The swampy land along the Ashley River seems to be ideal for growing 
Camellias of extraordinary size and astonishing brilliance. It was my pleasure, 
in 1939, to visit these great gardens. I saw literally thousand of plants growing 
in wild profusion and untold numbers of seedlings, some of which were 20 
feet tall. Through the kindness of the owners, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Pringle 
Smith, I was allowed to study and select a number of outstanding seedlings. 
From this great collection I assembled 49 first-rate varieties of the seedling 
origin. These were named by Mrs. Smith and because of the generosity of 
the owner it is now my privilege to introduce these large top-notch new 
Camellias to the American public. 
This great old showplace is one of the great landmarks of early culture in 
America, and every Camellia enthusiast and, for that matter, every lover 
of the outdoors ought to make a pilgrimage to this old plantation.—G. G. 
GERBING. 
Alba Fimbriata (Middletoni, No. 26.) This is the true fimbriated Alba Plena, a pure 
white, formal type of flower which measures 4 to 5 inches in diameter. The foliage is 
typical of Alba Plena. Early flowering. Grafted plants, $15.00. 
Alice Lockwood (Middletoni, No. 34.) A delightful 3-inch rose-pink flower with a white 
margin on each petal. Its rounded foliage is light green. The blooms, which resemble the 
Albert and the Elizabeth Azaleas, are noted for their attractive tall growth. Early flower- 
ing. Grafted plants, $15.00. 
Althea Particolor (Middletoni, No. 18). The cup-shaped, semi-double bloom, 4 inches 
across,.1s deep rose-pink marbled with white and veined deep red with prominent stamens. 
Large, dark green foliage and symmetrical growth characterize this variety. Early to 
late flowering. Very fine grafted plants, $15.00. 
FERNANDINA : FLORIDA 
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