The September Number of 
The Australian Gardener 
Flower Garden— 
The Camellia tee es 
Shasta Marguerite Daisy—Lawns 
Roses—Chysanthemums— 8 weet Pea— 
Bulbs— Rhodanthe Manglesi 
Bubs of Spring—Gloxianas—Baronias 
Lady Farmers—S.A. Show Dates 
Primroses—Lime ia the Garden Re- 
potting Palms and similar plants... 
Chrysanthemums Illustration 
oKe e) sic: 
CONTAINS— 
Orchard— 
Operations for September — Crown- 
gall and Hairy-root Diseases of the 
Apple Tree it tes cay AK®) 
A List of Good Apples tn wees 1 
The Poultry Yard 
All about Eggs—Cackle... wens TH 
Feeding ... oz) an prea 
Vegetable Garden. 
Seasonable Notes 2s ayy 164 
. The Dairy 
Dairy Notes... 0 as 18 
Agriculture and Stock. 
Thousand-Headed Kale ... peered 
Corns on Horses’ Feet 14 
Flower Garden. : 
The Camellia. 
By J. Cronin. j 
Tue camellia is a handsome evergreen 
Winter-blooming shrub, found native in 
China and Japan ‘The florists’ varieties 
haye been produced from Camellia Japo- 
_ Nica, a species that was introduced into 
England in 1739, This species is de- 
8cribed as a lofty shrub or small tree, 
foand growing wild in woods partially 
shaded from the sun by other trees. 
_ Robert Fortune mentions several varie- 
ties that he saw in the central and 
Southern provinces of China that had 
attained a height of from 30 to 40 feet. 
Some time after the original importation 
Several forms of varieties of C. Japonica, 
that produced flowers of varying cvlors 
and forms, were introduced into Euro- 
pean gardens, and it was froin these prin- 
Cipally that the fine varieties now grown 
I our gardens were raised. 
In addition to Camellia Japonica, ©. 
Sasanqua and reticulata are worthy of 
Cultivation. ; 
In this State the camellia is easily 
rown in the cool districts, where, when 
thoroughly established, it endures ex- 
tremes of cold, heat ana drought. In the 
gardens in the metropolitan district shel- 
ter from large trees or trellis is usually 
igh tn 
_. Provided, and fine specimens may be seen 
In many of the large gardens and nur- 
Series. In the warm districts shade con- 
Itions are necessary to grow them. The 
Principal point of value in camellias is 
their blooming when most trees and 
shrubs are without flowers or foliage. In 
4 fair collection, embracing early and late 
Varieties, some of the plants will be in 
Ower from June till September. 
Most of the plants purchased from the 
hurserymen are grafted on seedlings from 
Single varieties. This grafting requires a 
®ated glass house to insure a success. 
Cuttings of some varieties will form 
Plants under special conditions, but this 
Method is not often practised, being very 
Slow and uncertain. Layering is the most 
certain and easy means of increasing 
camellias. The process differs little from 
that for carnations, except that the soil 
should be more carefully prepared. The 
layers require to be attached to the parent 
plant, and attended to in watering, etc., 
for a full growing season at least. Some 
varieties nevd two years to form a sufficient 
root system to ensure free, healthy growth 
in the young plants. In preparing soil 
for the reception of layers—practically 
cuttings only partly separated from the 
parent plant—no manure should be used. 
A light, sandy and porous compost is 
necessary. The shoots should be securely 
pegged down to prevent any chance of 
their being disturbed when cultivated. 
During spring is the best time to layer 
camellias, and free growing shoots of the 
previous season are most likely to make 
good plants. They require to be kept 
moist during the dry, hot weather. 
A fairly friable loam, enriched with 
well rotted cow or sheep manure and 
thoroughly drained, will suit camellias 
well. The best manure to apply to soil 
around large plants is bonedust. A light 
dressing should be applied and lightly 
forked in during winter. A situation 
sheltered from north winds and full sun 
in summer is most suitable. In districts 
subject to severe frost a low situation 
should be avoided, or the flowers will be 
spoiled. 
One of the most important points in 
camellia culture is the need of planting 
carefully. The plants if taken from pots 
should be set out with the surface roots 
at the settled level of the surface soil. If 
planted too deeply they rarely succeed. 
‘Temporary shelter should be provided for 
the first summer, after which they may 
be expected to endure normal summer 
conditions. 
In cultivating the soikabout camellias 
deep working should be avoided at all 
seasons. Digging among the roots should 
never be attempted, as most of the feed- 
ing roots are near the surface and would 
inevitably be destroyed. A light skimmer- 
ing of the surface and atop dressing of 
sweet good soil is all that is necessary in 
the way of cultivation. 
The plants need a fair amount of water 
during summer. 
The only pruning needed is the re- 
moval of any parts that will tend to 
make the plants crowded with shoots or 
ill balanced. 
An occasional spraying with kerosene 
emulsion or resin compound will rid the 
plants of the black scale pest. 
The principal varieties are as follows— 
White — Alba plena. Fimbriata 
Isabella, Bonomiana 
Mathotiana alba 
Rei—C. M. Hovey, C. H. Hovey 
Rafia, Mathotiana 
William Bull 
Pink—Storyii, Mrs H. Boyce 
Lady St. Clair 
Harriet Beecher 
Marble and striped—Wrightii 
Giovanni Santarelli 
Carlotta Papudofft 
Other Forms—Aspasia, Waratah. 
White Waratah 
Sasanqua, Reticulata 
Horrensis asks—1. Will it pay to buy 
produce, say potatoes and onions, and 
export to Durban, South Africa? 2. 
Which generally pays the best, exporting 
or importing in this line ? I mean, would 
it pay better to go to South Africa and 
import? If we conld answer the two 
questions we would not be running the 
Australian Gardener, as the market in 
both countries is subject to fluctuations. 
K. Bechtel, 
‘Truss and Bandage Maker, 
59 V’Connell-street, 
NORTH ADELAIDE 
-—— :0: —— 
Trusses, Bandages, © 
Kneecaps, Leather Jackets, 
Shoulder Straps, &e., 
Made to Order, 
And sent to all parts of the Commonwealth 
.... Fit Guaranteed ... 
. A Trial solicited. 
