
Pink Perfection 

Sarah Frost 
CAMELLIA JAPONICA 
While Camellias generally are associated with the 
Deep South, their zone of tolerance is greater than most 
people think. It has been found to our delight that 
they can be planted safely without protection from 
Richmond southward and thrive especially well along 
the coastal areas. We have in Richmond plantings of 
Camellias growing year after year proving beyond 
doubt that where proper consideration is given to 
exposure, soil conditions and planting procedure they 
will thrive and give satisfaction. 
The increasing popularity of the Camellia family 
throughout the entire country has brought about in- 
tensive study of varieties, improved hybrids and a 
general dissemination of growing rules. As a family 
they are extremely hardy when well established and 
in happy surroundings. 
Some two hundred years ago Camellias were intro- 
duced in Europe from their wild habitat in Asia and 
about fifty years later were brought to America. They 
were of the variety known under the classification of 
Japonica and huge specimens are growing in the deep 
South which are traced back to these plantings. It 
appears that the original plantings were in the area 
around Charleston, S. C. and Natchez, Miss. 
Briefly, the following rules should be observed: The 
soil should be of a loose character with plenty of humus 
and acid reacting in nature, about two points below a 
neutral 7 pH. A good mixture for the soil to be used is 
about a third each of sand, peat moss and good garden 
loam, especially if the plants are young and are planted 
with bare roots exposed. Good drainage is essential. 
If the area is inclined to be excessively damp, provide 
drainage by means of gravel or cinders below the 
natural bottom of the hole you dig. Sometimes drain- 
age tile is used if persistently wet. A good rule to con- 
sider is that the plant should be planted some two 
or three inches higher than it was in the nursery to 
allow for settling and then to provide three inches 
of mulch material such as peat moss, oak leaves or 
pine twigs or straw. Well rotted barnyard manure 
incorporated with the soil mass is beneficial and for 
an all-around safe fertilizer nothing beats two parts 
of Cottonseed Meal and one part of Acid Phosphate. 
Excessive use of a high nitrogen fertilizer or fertilizing 
too late in the Summer may cause bud drop. Feed 
your plants well just as soon as the blooming period 
is finished. A healthy plant produces two growths 
a season. Insects are few which attack these plants, 
although scale sometimes forms on the underside of 
the leaves but is easily controlled with sprays of 
miscible oil such as Florida Volck. 
Select a location having a northern or easterly 
exposure if possible, with half shade rather than full 
sun and you will be giving your plants every ad- 
vantage along with proper preparation and planting, 
but remember this—they are grown by the thousands 
in full sun and without too much after care or atten- 
tion. With your first gorgeous blossoms you, too, 
will become one of the vast army of Camellia lovers. 
The Demand for Camellias Ja Jucnreasing Each Seasau 
We Haue a Specially Gine Stack of Them 
SEE LISTINGS PAGE 5 

20 
LAIRD‘S NURSERIES 
