CHARLESTON, S. C. 
MAGNOLIA GARDENS 
Magnolia Gardens were made world-famous by its azaleas be- 
ing seen by the thousands of people who visited every spring—few 
ever realizing the magnificent camellias they walked by were even 
growing there—their glory had passed with the coming of the azaleas. 
Those who really know the Gardens feel that the place should be 
famous for its camellia collection which so few people see in the 
winter and early spring. 
These camellias were imported by the Reverend John G. Dray- 
ton, creator of Magnolia Gardens, during the 1840’s from France 
and Belgium. We have a letter of his written to a fellow minister 
dated 1858 in which he states “I was afraid the other day that I had 
been exaggerating when in answer to his inquiries, I told a friend 
that I supposed their might be some 120 varieties of camellias at 
Magnolia. So I sat down and summed up the count afterwards and 
found that number of fine double varieties and how many more, 
I do not pretend to know—their name seems to be something like 
legion. Many of the plants are near 10 feet high and as thick as 
a holly bush—with almost as many flowers as leaves—’. Some 
of these have reached colossal proportions, one double variety now 
measuring 28 feet in height, 23 feet through, and 16 inches in trunk 
diameter. 
A few of our varieties have been on the market for years, and 
you will be surprised to find you probably have some of them in your 
collection. 
A CORDIAL INVITATION 
is extented to our customers to visit the Garden and Nursery during 
the camellia season. Besides the magnificient camellias in the Gar- 
den, there is the added attraction of a greenhouse full of blooming 
camellias. 
Many customers visit us every year—the trip actually costing 
them nothing. The ten per cent discount allowed on camellias pick- 
ed up at the nursery usually more than covers all expenses incurred. 
