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CAMELLIAS ° Zhe Aristocrats of the South 
HE Camellia, introduced into American gardens nearly two centuries ago, has a romantic story. Its 
native home is in China south of Shanghai, in all Japan south of Tokyo, and in Korea, where it grows to a 
height of 35 to 40 feet, with dense, well-shaped heads of red and pink flowers bearing clusters of golden 
anthers in the center... It was named for a Moravian Jesuit, George Joseph Kamel, who traveled through Asia 
in the seventeenth century. 
Some time prior to 1839 the Camellia was taken to England and France, and subsequently to America, 
where it became one of the treasured shrubs flourishing in the gardens of the old southern mansions. The plant 
came to be called Japonica—an instance where the specific name has become the common name of the plant. 
Grown formal and kept pruned, no Camellia was permitted to grow naturally, and all varieties which were not 
formal doubles were discarded. This trend may have been responsible for the decline of interest in their culture, 
for they went “out of fashion” along with poke bonnets and hoop-skirts, and other plants took their place in the 
public eye. 
Just eight or ten years ago there developed a new and awakened interest in Camellias, and they are now 
accepted as the most beautiful of all flowering shrubs. Not only is great interest shown in double varieties, 
but also in the single (Amabilis), semi-double (Imura), formal double (Pink Perfection), rose formed (Matho- 
tiana rubra), loose peony formed (Herme), and full peony formed (Prof. C. S. Sargent). 
HOW CAMELLIAS ARE GROWN 
Camellias are easy to grow so long as a few simple rules are followed: 5. Mulch well with pine straw or oak leaves to help hold moisture. 
. They should be planted in good rich loamy soil with acid reaction. 6. Fertilize only in the late spring and early summer, since late growth 
. Camellias prefer partial shade, but may be grown in the sun if neces- will cause less bloom. 
sary. Never attempt to grow in full shade. 7. Keep well watered, especially during the blooming period and when 
. Be sure the location is well drained. bloom buds are being set. 
. They should be planted at the same depth they grew in the nursery 8. Spray with Volck or some other oil emulsion in 1-60 solution to keep 
oe ; . plants clean from scale and insects. 
CAMELLIA GIGANTEA 
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