COLEMAN’S FINE CAMELLIAS 
OBSERVATIONS OF S. D. COLEMAN 
Camellias are small trees, not like annuals or 
field crops such as corn, cotton and such, which 
‘are fast growers and heavy feeders and need lots 
of chemical fertilizers. Trees on the other hand 
are slow growers and take on fertilizer very slow- 
ly, of course this does not mean that they do not 
need good rich soil, which can be made up of leaf 
mold, well rotted manure that has been well mix- 
ed with soil, nature’s plant food. 
Over feeding with chemical fertilizer one 
should keep in mind that Camellias are small trees 
and their demand for nitrogen and other nutrients 
are small, in fact if you will start off with rich 
soil and keep well mulched, a little cotton seed 
‘meal or tankage two or three times a year will 
possibly help furnish all the nitrogen and other 
nutrients needed, or a good oak leaf mulch will keep 
plenty of nitrogen available for the plant, besides 
other nutrients. A plant too heavily fertilized with 
commercial fertilizer may cause breaking down of 
cells and be subject to fungus troubles. To pre- 
vent fungus troubles so far as possible is better 
than tnying to cure it, however if it should de- 
velop, I have found a good coating of enamel paint 
over infected parts is the best remedy to date. 
This seems to smother the fungus, but let’s work 
on a preventative. 
SHADE means partial about a fourth up to half 
shade. Acid soil pH 5.5 is best, pH 4 is too much, 
best result is obtained by using oak leaves, peat 
moss, pine straw as mulch, a little cotton seed 
meal will help if needed. Don’t use too much 
Aluminum Sulphate, Sulphur is slower in action 
and better, but use lightly if necessary. 
WATCH YOUR PLANTS 
If it becomes necessary to use fertilizer, use 
it sparingly or in very small quantities at the 
time, over several applications, remembering the 
rule will not work that if a little will do a little 
good a little more will be better. That’s where 
you will have trouble. 
WE ARE ALWAYS GLAD FOR YOU TO 
VISIT THE NURSERY WHERE WE HAVE CA- 
MELLIAS IN BLOOM FROM OCTOBER TILL 
APRIL. AZALEAS START IN MARCH. THE 
NATIVE AZALEA TRAIL IS A SIGHT TO SEE, 
LASTING WELL INTO THE SUMMER A VERY 
LARGE COLLECTION, 
S. D. Coleman 
—: PAGE 17 :— 
