CAMELLIAS 
Camellias will grow and prosper under 
widely varying conditions as to soil and tem- 
perature, 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 be- 
fore the first severe freeze. However, an 
early severe freeze, while the growth is still 
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 
acice 
Camellias are subject to several forms of 
scale which can be easily controlled by spray- 
ing. A spray of one gallon of water, three 
tablespoons of Volck, or other white oil 
emulsion, and one teaspoon of Black Leaf 40, 
will be effective. Care should be used not 
to spray in the hot sun. If the plant is not 
shaded, it should be sprayed late in the after- 
noon, if possible. Otherwise the leaves are 
likely to be badly burned, which will retard 
the growth of the plant. Generally it is suf- 
ficient to spray in the spring and again in 
the fall, but if a plant is badly infested with 
disease we recommend spraying every three 
weeks until the scale is killed. 
Sometimes camellias are affected by the 
disease commonly known as “die-back.” 
This is due to a fungus. We have had satis- 
factory results in controlling this disease by 
spraying with Bordeaux mixture three times 
in the Spring, at ten-day intervals, when the 
first new growth starts. It is very important 
that the spraying be done at the time the 
new growth starts, and the plant should be 
sprayed thoroughly so as to wet all the 
_ branches and the trunk. 
A thin mulch of oak leaves or pine straw 
is good for camellias. Almost any fertilizer 
that does not have an alkaline reaction can 
be used. We have had good results with cot- 
ton seed meal and Vigoro. 
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