A Few Notes on How to Grow 
CAMEL L TAs 
When selecting a location for your Camel- 
lia, a well drained eastern exposure sheltered 
from the hot afternoon sun 1s ideal. However, 
the most wnportant thing to remember is a 
WELL DRAINED POSITION. Waiter 
must not stand around the plant after a hard 
rain as this will cause the feeder roots to rot 
and force the plant to spend, the entire grow- 
ing season developing new roots before any 
amount of top growth can be made. If the soil 
1s heavy or poorly drained, prepare a bed with 
drainage away from the plant. Contrary to 
popular belief, digging a large hole and plac- 
ing gravel in the bottom will not solve the 
drainage problem as water ts likely to collect 
im the hole. 
Camellias like moisture conditions similar 
to those necessary to grow a good lawn. That 
is, never allow the plant to become thoroughly 
dry during the summer and fall. Over water- 
ing 1s also to be avoided as this 1s one of the 
causes of bud drop. Other causes of bud drop 
are poor drainage and surface cultivation. 
Never cultivate your Camellias; imstead 
mulch (about 1 inch deep) in the spring with 
leaf mold, peat moss, or well rotted cow 
manure—or better, a mixture of all three. 
It is absolutely necessary to avoid planting 
Camellias too deep. If the ball is an inch 
deeper than it was formerly grown, the 
growth and flowering will be greatly retard- 
ed. If two inches deeper, it is likely to die. In 
setting the plant in the new position the ball 
should be level or slightly higher than it was 
formerly grown. 
Camellias will stand pruning — and it ts 
necessary at times to shape the plant by cut- 
ting back rapid, growth. To make bushy speci- 
mens and more flower buds, we recommend 
picking the flowers as this will help to branch 
the plant and give you more branches and 
therefore more flower buds in years to come. 

