Camellias 
PLANTING AND CARE 
CAMELLIAS are rugged plants and will thrive in a wide 
variety of soils—from very sandy to heavy clay or adobe, but 
should be set out and cared for somewhat differently in very light 
or very heavy soils. Just remember that for ages the ancestors 
of modern Camellias grew wild on mountain or hillsides, or the 
well drained slopes or valleys below—THEY WERE NOT SWAMP. 
PLANTS—and be guided in your planting and treatment by that, 
fact. Those ancestor plants had:— ; a oe 
1. GOOD DRAINAGE—Absolutely essential—so fill in’ or 
otherwise slope surface to drain excess water away. Never plant 
where water stands or under eaves or near down spouts. ; 
2. ROOTS NEAR SURFACE—Top soil on mountain or hill- 
sides continuously washes away—so don’t plant deep. One half 
inch from surface to roots is good. 
3. NO ALKALI—on mountain of hillsides, so give a slightly 
acid soil. 
4. LEAF MOLD—fibrous material—in woodland soil, aids air, 
water, fine root penetration and acidity—desirable. 
5. SOME SHADING—by larger trees prevalent, hence desir- 
able, but not always essential. . 
In planting Camellias provide the above 5 natural conditions, 
aiming thereby rapidly to produce well developed root systems, 
vigorous growth, and sturdy, well established plants which, with 
such a good start, need practically no care in later years beyond 
an occasional feeding and watering. These 5 desirable: conditions 
are secured by following these simple - ‘“ 
DIRECTIONS 
FOR PLANTING IN WELL DRAINED SOIL (sandy or 
gravelly)—dig the hole about 2 feet in width and depth (larger 
for larger plants), mix the soil thrown out with one-fourth leaf 
mold or peat moss or some of both if obtainable—NO FERTI- 
LIZER—fill the hole with the mixed soil, firming it thoroughly 
to prevent settling—set the ball of earth and roots so the top of 
the ball is LEVEL with the surface of the surrounding area. 
(If the roots are imbedded in a ball of HARD soil, crack the ball 
somewhat, crumbling off any hard crust to let roots enter the 
new soil.) Fill around ball three-fourths full with the mixed 
soil, firming it. Fill the remaining basin with water 2 or 3 times, 
soaking thoroughly; then fill in soil, firming it and sloping it 
slightly up to the plant. LEAVE NO BASIN AROUND THE 
PLANT—DO NOT PLANT TOO DEEP. Upper roots NEVER 
more than 1 inch below surface. 
WITH CLAY OR ADOBE SOIL, solve the drainage problem 
by (1) sloping the general surface to run much water off in heavy 
rains. (2) Provide for quickly draining away what undesired water 
does sink in by digging the hole about 3 feet deep, filling in 
about a foot with loose rock or coarse gravel—no ashes, lime, 
plaster, or concrete (alkali). In extremely heavy clay or adobe 
use a post hole digger to deepen the planting hole a foot or more 
and fill this hole as well as the larger hole with gravel or stones, 
thus providing ample vacant spaces into which the unwanted water 
may quickly collect and may be held until it can drain away 
through the hard soil. In heavy soit be sure the plant is set high 
enough so the surface slopes slightly from the plant...Mix the 
