A Non-Profit Organization

Vol. 3, No.1 OFFICIAL BULLETIN October, 1949

LADY CLARE (Akasi-Gata, Grandiflora Rosea, Empress) Very large, deep pink semi-double. Vigorous bushy growth. Mid­ season bloomer. First reference to this varety is in Gardener's Chron­ icle 73: 93. 1923. It was imported to England from the Orient and renamed.

Courtesy East Bay Nursery, Berkeley Photograph by Herbert V. Mitchell 2 Northem California Camellia Society, Inc.

NORTHEN CALIFORNIA CAMELLIA SOCIETY. INC. ROSTER OF OFFICERS PRESIDENT: TREASURER: Walker M. Wells, M.D. (HU 3-0951) G. Myron Grismore, D.D.S. (HI 4-7277) 133 Hagar St., Piedmont 1624 Franklin St., Oakland 12 VICE-PRESIDENT: DIRECTORS: Gordon W. Richmond, M.D. (RI 1742-0) 0.1. Feathers (Orinda 217]) 475 Mount St., Richmond I Camellia Lane, Lafayette 1 SECRETARY: Barlow Hollingshead (Orinda 2054) John Paul Edwards (GL 1-1854) 12 La Cintilla Ave., Orinda 2 1347 Trestle Glen Road, Oakland Mrs. W. 1. Stoeckle (Concord 7228) 2313 Almond Ave., Box 818, Concord

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN: BULLETIN EDITOR: PROGRAM: Mrs. Barlow Hollingshead (Orinda 2054) 12 La Cintilla Ave., Orinda 2 Mrs. W. 1. Stoeckle (Concord 7228) 2313 Almond Ave., Box 818, Concord LAKESIDE PARK CAMELLIA PLANTING: AWARDS: O. E. Hopfer (AN 1·5737) D. 1. Feathers (Orinda 217]) 1872 Brentwood Road, Oakland 1 Camellia Lane, Lafayette I HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH: RECEPTION: Gordon W. Richmond, M.D. (RI 1742-0) P. J. Ferrarese 475 Mount St., Richmond 49 Reservoir Rd., San Rafael NOMENCLATURE & CLASSIFICATION: ARRANGEMENTS: Barlow Hollingshead (Orinda 2054) Mrs. H. G. Sanders 12 La Cintilla Ave., Orinda 2 4138 Westlake Ave., Oakland 2 BLOOM DISPLAY: MEMBERSHIP: Bruce Harless (LA 5-8218) Alfred Stettler (DE 3-5186) 1301 Stannage Ave., Berkeley 125 Howth St., San Francisco 12 SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: ANNUAL CAMELLIA SHOW: Harold A. Wescott (TR 2-5382) 575 Juana Ave., San Leandro

The Northern California Camellia Society, In~. is a non-profit organization of camellia fanciers interested in the culture, propagation, and development of camellias. Meetings are held on the first Monday in each month from October to May inclusive, at 8 p.m., at the Chabot School Auditorium, Oakland. Membership is open to all those with a serious interest in the subject. Annual Dues $5.00. Membership application blanks may be obtained from John Paul Edwards, Secretary, 1347 Trestle Glen Road, Oakland. Published by the Northern California Camellia Society. Inc. Copyright, 1949

OCTOBER MEETING

The October meeting will be held on Monday evening. October 3. 1949. at 8 o·clock. at the Chabot School Auditorium. Chabot Road and Patton. Oakland. Toichi Domoto will give an illustrated talk on Camellia Sasanqua. Following the intermission. kodachromes will be projected showing new varieties of Camellia Japonica. Courtesy W. T. Wood. Macon. Georgia and Herbert V. Mitchell. Oakland. A Question·and·Answer period will be conducted by P. J. Ferrarese of San Rafael. Bring your cultural questions. TOICHI DOMOTO NURSERY. Hayward. is donating the plants to be given away as door prizes: SHOWA·NO-SAKAE and NARUMIGATA. both sasanquas. Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. 3

TRANSPLANTING CAMELLIAS By William B. Smyth Smyth Camellia Nursery, Ross I have been asked to give a practi- are raised in wooden boxes or tubs cal demonstration of transplanting or in glazed pots. The disadvantage and I sincerely hope that you will get of growing camellias in clay pots is some worthwhile information from that they dry out. Metal containers this discussion. I shall show we per- and wood containers, on the other form this operation in the nursery (l) hand, hold the moisture longer. The from containers to larger containers, proper size of container can be (2) from containers to the garden, (3) bought or it can be made. from the garden back to containers, Select a container that is large and (4) transplanting form one loca- enough and make sure that it has tion in the garden to another location plenty of drainage holes to allow the in the garden. water to drain out. To insure good Transplanting From Containers drainage, I put an inch or two of To Larger Containers coarse gravel in the bottom of con- The first thing to consider when tainer. This allows the water that transplanting fro m containers to passes around the roots to drain out larger containers would be whether of the bottom immediately. The wa- your plant needs transplanting. The ter does not stay there and cause the way to do this is to find out whether soil mix to become soggy. the earth in the container is complete- The next step is to prepare your ly used up by the roots of the ca- potting soil. Many types of soil are mellia; that is, determine whether the used, depending on the kind of soil roots have come out to the edge of available. One person doesn't have the container. In the case of a small the same type of soil as his neighbor. plant in a pot or in a tapered con- But it is possible to make a good soil tainer, knock it out of container and mix of almost any soil by using a inspect the roots. If the plant is mixture of peet, leaf mold and soil. pretty well pot-bound it needs trans- If the mix is friable, it will remain planting. rather loose. Many people have an idea that if Now take your container that has they buy a camellia plant in a gallon an inch or two of coarse gravel at the can, they should take it home and bottom and put an inch or two of put it into a bigger container. If a good soil on top of the gravel. If gallon-size plant is transferred to a the camellia plant happens to be in lard bucket. there is more soil than a gallon can, snip the can down in it can use up in several years. Dur- about three places with tin snips. ing this time, the earth might grow Never try to knock the plant out of sour. The proper size container to a gallon can because in so doing you use when transplanting to a larger will knock the earth loose from the size is from 2 to 4 inches larger all roots. Of course, if the container is around. The roots will take up that tapered, you may tap it on a table much more of the soil the first year. and it will gradually slip out and the Now that the size of container has whole root ball will be in your hand. been decided, the next step is to de- Be sure to inspect the roots well. cide on the type of container. Ca- The idea is to pull the roots loose mellias may be grown in ordinary without breaking them so that they clay pots, glazed pots, metal contain- can go out into the soil about them; ers, wooden boxes or tubs. I think this refers to the roots that have most camellias in private collections grown back into the root ball again. 4 Northern California Camellia Society, Inc.

They sometimes have a hard time Question: How hard do you have breaking out into the soil. to tap soil down? Now place the plant in the center Answer: Just so that there won't of container so that the main stem is be any air pockets left. as straight as possible. Then put in Question: Do you ordinarily trans­ more of your soil mix and firm it plant grafts as early as that? down gently so that there are no air pockets left; but not too firm, for the Answer: Yes. This was a three­ sake of good drainage. Some people year-old understock. Camellias don't fill the container up to within I inch seem to mind much being pot-bound. or Y2 inch from the top; but this is They can grow that way way for sev­ not satisfactory because it gives little eral years. space for watering. I prefer to have Question: What proportion of soil from 2 to 3 inches of container show­ and peet moss do you use? ing above the soil. Answer: It depends on what you After the camellia is transplanted, have to work with. At the nursery fill the container to the top with water we use the following mix: so that it will soak all the earth in I· part leaf mold the container. I part peet moss I shall demonstrate transplanting a 3 parts soil year-graft of Strawberry Blonde to a I part sand tapered redwood container with two You don't want your soil mix too slits at the bottom for drainage. I heavy because that would prevent shall put pieces of pottery over those good drainage. Nor do you want slits to keep it open so that the water the soil mix too light, for the water will be able to drain out. Over the will go through so fast that the root­ crockery, I shall put in about I or 2 ball won't even get wet. The other inches of coarse gravel; and over the day I visited a nursery where the gravel, I or 2 inches of potting soil. soil mix was so light that the roots I do not use too much soil because hadn't got wet after being watered all I want to prevent its souring. summer. You will notice that I have made If you have an alkaline water and three long, vertical cuts in the gallon you water the plant frequently, it will tin in order to get the plant out with­ suffer that much more. out any injury. These roots are just If you have the soil mix just heavy about right and won't have to be enough to provide adequate drainage straightened out. and light enough so that water will It is important to place the main penetrate the root-ball, that is the kind stem of the plant as straight as possi­ of a soil mix to use. ble in the wooden container. This If you set the container on the being a square container, there is ground, you will need some cleates; about a 2-inch space at the sides and otherwise the slits at the bottom of a 3-inch space at the corners, allowing the container will get clogged up. room enough for the roots to grow. Transplanting From Container Question: Do you have to take . To Garden some soil off at the top of the ball? When you go out and buy a plant Answer: No, not unless it has in a container, you may want to plant been planted too deep. it in your garden. The first step is Question: Do you have to trans­ to look for the best place to plant it, plant every year? where there is protection from strong Answer: No, this plant could grow wind, adequate drainage; the latter in this container for two or possibly is most important. three years. (continued on page 10) Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. 5

THE USE OF COLCHICINE IN CAMELLIA BREEDING By Robert M. Hoffman University of California Agricultural Extension Service Red Bluff, California The use of the chemical colchicine of finding new and better plants. as a means of chromosome doubling However, for the most part, cytolo­ has opened a large reservoir of pos­ gists have used colchicine primarily sibilities in plant-breeding work. The on herbaceous plants and only in re­ fact that any numerical change in cent years has it been applied to chromosome number fundamentally woody or semi-woody species. Great entails a mutation which may be ex­ work has been done with the African pressed in a number of characters Marigold, To b a c c 0, Snapdragons, of the plant indicates the significance Mint, Pinks, Basil, to mention only a of the statement above. Colchicine, few. The woody plants now under a poisonous medical chemical, has investigation are also numerous, such been used since 1937 in plant-breed­ as: peach, pear, apple, cherry and ing work to produce changes in grape. In all of the above named plants by doubling the number of flower and fruit experiments, there is chromosomes in cells, a condition re­ a certain goal in mind: disease re­ ferred to as polyploidy. The in­ sistant, greater vigor, larger fruit, im­ creased number of chromosomes us­ proved quality, larger blossoms, or ually brings about an increase in size making the barren productive. These of the affected cells and various de­ goals mayor may not be reached grees of changes in their functions. through the use of colchicine for it In contrast with normal plants, those too depends on chance as does cross developed by colchicine treatment pollination or hybridization. The ad­ often show changes in height and vantages in the use of this chemical width; in thickness of branches, in is that the frequencies of mutation flowers, fruits and seeds; in fertility and possibilties are greatly increased. of flowers; and in physiological re­ Of course, the important factors set sponses. However, the degree of up as goals for a camellia breeder changes produced when the chromo­ would be flower size and shape, color some number is doubled cannot be and fragrance. predicted, and "magic" changes re­ Chromosome Numbers ferred to by some popular writers are not to be expected. It was reported by L. P. Johnson in the 1947 American Camellia Society A small quantity of colchicine can yearbook that the haploid or basic be used to treat a large number of chromosome number of x equals 15. camellia plants, seeds or other types The diploid or normal number of 2x of material, if applied without undue or 30 was known in the following waste. Where a dipping method is species: used, the solution may be used more c. assamica than once. Generally colchicine is C. iaponica used in a water solution in concen­ C. sinensis trations from as low as 0.01 per cent C. reticulata up to 1.00 per cent. The assistance C. saluenensis of a druggist may be obtained in pre­ paring desired percentages and quan­ Whereas Johnson reports the C. sasangica is a polyploid or more spe­ tities of solutions. cifically a tetraploid (Le. 4x or 60). Universities and experiment sta­ With the knowledge that the camel­ tions in all parts of the United States lias that are commonly grown are di­ have been using this material in hope ploid, it will be definitely interesting 6 Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. to see what the polyploid varieties Treatment Methods are going to produce. It is known Success in the treatment of growing that some of the tetraploid herbaceous material is based on the principle that ornamentals have produced more in­ the chemical should reach the re­ tense odor or fragrance than in their gions of rapid growth; therefore, the haploid state. Will this be true of manner of treatment depends upon the Camellia? This is the question the type of material to be treated. that time alone will answer, for it takes considerable periods of time Camellia Seeds and patience to obtain results. Since camellia seeds are fairly How Colchicine Works slow in germinating, it is best to ger­ minate the seeds in a jar filled with Colchicine has no apparent effect damp peat moss. (As has been dis­ on non-dividing cells or tissues, so cussed in a prior bulletin.) At the treatment is made only on vigorously time when the root is 1 to 2 inches in growing or active plant parts. It is length, drop the whole germinating best applied to Camellia after the bud seed into a solution of 0.2 per cent scales break and the new shoot colchicine and leave for about 12 pushes out. Then remove the ter­ hours. If treatment is extended to 24 minal leaves if the dip treatment is or 30 hours, the plant material may to be used and submerged. be killed. Such treatment will nor­ mally prevent rapid germination from As the shoot elongates and normal this point, but the plants can be car­ cell division takes place, the chromo­ ried on with care. The treated seeds somes split longitudinally, and each should be taken from the solution and half chromosome migrates to the op­ planted directly in sterilized soil. If posite sides of the cell. A new cell any of them show a thickened growth wall forms between the two masses either as sectors or the whole shoot, of chromosomes and two daughter these are the ones that should be cells are formed. Each of these watched particularly. daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes as the mother cell. Camellia Seedling Treatment If, on the other hand, colchicine is present in the dividing celL the split Establish the young seedling in 3­ chromosomes do not migrate to the inch pots as soon as possible. When opposite sides and the division of the the young camellia is growing rapid­ cell is prevented. In this way, this ly once again, the leaves should be material prevents. cell wall formation removed to facilitate insertion in a and causes doubling of the chromo­ small vial. In order to keep the soil some number that was found in the in place during treatment, a circular same cell previous to treatment. After piece of cardboard may be cut and placed over the top of the pot. After doubling takes place the growth or the leaves have been cut at the pet­ elongation is very definitely slowed. iole and the cardboard is in place, the In many cases it takes a number of pot may be inverted and the growing months for growth to be resumed. If shoot placed in a small vial of the camellias are treated during the sec­ colchicine water solution of between ond flush of growth, activity may not 0.2 and 0.8 per cent. A small amount be resumed before the following of Sento-merse may be added at the spring. After the cell chromosome rate of 2 to 6 drops of 10 per cent number is doubled the cell can di­ solution to each 10 cc. of the water vide normally to form daughter cells colchicine solution. This is done in with the double number of chromo­ order to make the colchicine pene- somes. (continued on page 12) Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. 7

THE CAMELLIA By E. H. Carter, Carter's Camellia Gardens, Monterey Park Your Program Chariman introduced turning, which resulted in a bad dis- me as a camellia expert; but I want tortion. to assure you that there is no such The next slide shows badly tangled animal as a camellia authority. root-systems in which the roots press Even the most experienced ca- against each other and cut off the flow mellia growers are not really experts. of the sap. I bought three plants of We know tentatively a few things a very fine variety in 4-inchpots about camellias. When I make as- while on a trip in Oregon. When I sertions and recommendations to you, transplanted them, the roots were so I should like you to understand that tangled that I could not separate these are tentative, although they are them. Two of the plants were killed the result of a good many years of by a stoppage of sap circulation. experience. Now we come to a Reticulata, Root Systems of Camellias grafted onto a root-bound understock, The first set of slides that I shall which a man bought from a reputable show tonight are the more utilitarian, nursery for fifteen dollars. When he covering root-systems of camellia removed the can, the soil dropped off, plants. Some I consider poor; others leaving a root-ball the shape of a 2Yz- excellent types of camellia roots. inch pot. He set the plant out and of course it died. When you buy a camellia in a can you are likely to judge it by its top; The next slide shows a cutting- but the best top in the world, with a grown root - system. Sometimes a poor root-system, is a poor invest- cutting will send down a tap root. ment. With a good root-system you A seedling always sends down a tap can build a good top. Some of the root. At present there is a debate on plants photographed on these slides as to the desirability of a plant with were dumped out by camellia grow- a long tap root. If a small plant with ers. Others are dead plants that a tap root is not kept in a small pot were brought in. Another is one too long, there is no danger of dam- that I obtained from another nursery age to the root-system. These are because I did not have the variety pictures of some plants that I received the customer wanted. from the Deep South. There they The first slide shows the evolution grow camellias in nursery rows and of a faulty type of root-system. The ball them out. These plants did not plant is container grown, starting have enough root-system. I should with a 2Yz-inch pot and kept there like to warn you about balled plants until the roots had become hardened that have been dug from the ground. and woody. The compression of the To cut down express charges there cambium tissue interferes with the has been a tendency to take less and circulation of the sap and the result less dirt and cut off more and more is an enfeebled root-system. As the of the root-system. I will not buy a roots become larger, the pressure be- balled-in-burlap plant from the South comes greater. In this case, fungus if I can get the variety some other from the soil entered and root rot way. I would prefer to get scions developed, killing the plant. The from down there. nursery which sold this plant was The next pictures show a more de- reputable, but their hired workers had sirable type of root-system, where not taken the trouble to repot and the roots are widely spread and are spread out the roots to prevent that not running around the root ball. 8 Northern California Camellia Society, Inc.

These were grown in such a way that cause most of the plant food has been they do not get pot-bound; but that washed out by winter rain; then light­ is a trade secret. The second photo­ er feeding first of April, May and graph is a - cutting-grown plant that June; and then one or two light feed­ has a main root that goes down like ings in late fall or early winter. I a tap root from a seedling. The next don't recommend fertilizing late in the photograph shows the main root-sys­ summer except on smaller plants tem running out of the side. It is a where growth rather than bloom is perfectly good root-system although desired. Root growth does not stop too wide. But it is well spread. when top growth stops. A little Camellia Culture plant food then will add growth and probably increase somewhat the size For ages the ancestors of modern of next year's bloom. camellias grew wild on mountain or hillsides-THEY WERE NOT SWAMP Discoloration of Foliage PLANTS-and be guided in your planting and treatment by that fact. Every type of discoloration of ca­ Those ancestor plants had: mellia foliage has meaning. . Some discoloration is perfectly natural and 1) GOOD DRAINAGE, which is ab­ harmless. Other types are objection­ solutely essential. Never plant a able. camellia where water stands or under eaves or near down spouts. The first slide shows absence of chlorophyl, which is likely to occur 2) ROOTS NEAR SURFACE. The top in any variety of camellia, but in soil on mountain or hillsides washes some, more than others. Forexample: away continuously, so roots are near Daikagura. We don't know why the the surface. To simulate this condi­ chlorophyl is not sent up into the tion, don't plant deep. One-half inch leaves. There are various theories from surface to roots is good.. If roots regarding this. There is a virus are somewhat exposed to air, they are theory; but that means disease, while not injured. these leaves seem perfectly healthy. 3) NO ALKALI on mountain or hill­ Sometimes the first growth in the sides, so provide a slightly acid soil. spring will show this variegation and 4) LEAF MOLD.. Fibrous material in the second growth will be green. The woodland soil lightens it, provides yellow portion of the leaves will not aeration, penetration of water and stand the sun. Daikagura with some acidity. yellow in its foliage should be shield­ 5) SOME SHADE by larger trees. ed from sunlight. Most camellia plants like partial A lady came into the nursery with shade. foliage that had a mottled appearance. Those were old leaves getting ready Fertilizing to fall off and be replaced by new Begin fertilizing the first of March. leaves. I like to apply fertilizer so that it can The second slide shows a condi­ be taken up by the plant and be tion with which we need to become stored.in the limbes; then when the familiar. It is the result of too much impulse to grow comes, they can alkali in the water. The veins of the burst forth with growth. I have ad­ leaf remain green, but between the vocated a small amount of fertilizer . veins there is a yellowing, and later at a time. I think it is better to supply the leaves develop brown spots in a somewhat uniform amount of plant the midst of the yellow. That is a food instead of giving too much at sure sympton of alkaline injury. The one time. Heaviest feeding should old remedy was agricultural sulfur. be given about the first of March be- In using sulfur, I would say that be- Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. 9

fore you set your camellias out, you become too dry. This is what I did scatter Va-pound per square yard of to prevent sunburn: I reasoned that surface. Then dig down deep and if we were to prevent that evapora­ mix it in thoroughly over quite a wide tion, the first thing to do would be to area of surface. Don't use too much lower the temperature; the other because you can kill your plants with would be to increase the humidity. sulfur. This is a long-time, long-range I violated all my teachings as a r~medy. youngster that you must not wet foli­ But for immediate satisfactory re­ age when the sun is shining on it. At sults I have used a mixture of ferrous noon on one of the first of three or sulphate (iron sulphate) and magne­ four hot days, I turned on the over­ sium sulphate (epsom salts) sold un­ head sprinkler-system in the lath­ der the trade name "Acitate"; or you houses for a minute or a minute and can buy the two ingredients in pow­ a half until the foliage was dripping der form and mix them, about two water, but before the water had gone parts of ferrous to one of magnesium into the containers. The ground, sulphate, dissolving about a heaping however, had become soaking wet. tablespoonful of the powder to every The next morning the plants looked three or four gallons of water and as though they had grown 2 or 3 soak the soil deeply and over a quite inches. Then each day when there large area around the plant. was hot weather I had one of the The next slide is quite different. Not men turn on the sprinkler-system for only the veins of the leaves remain a minute. That was the first year normally green but the fabric of the High Hat had been put on the market leaves between. But there starts in by Coolidge. At Coolidge's nursery a blackish-brown at the tip of the leaf which spreads down the edges. I had a hard time finding a High Hat This is a sympton of too much fertili­ that was not badly sunburned, and zer. Note that this is different from sunburned leaves are not good for the preceding slide in that there is cuttings. The next year Coolidge no yellowing between the veins. put in an overhead sprinkler system Presently those leaves wilLdrop. off, for most of the camellias. leaving long, bare stems. The rem­ The next photographs illustrate a edy for that is simple. When your camellia blight prevalent in the south coffee is too strong, dilute it. When called die-back. The fungus gets the fertilizer is too strong dilute it. underneath the outer bark and grad­ Use water to leach out the soil. Al­ ually girdles a limb or a plant, stop­ low the plants to come back to normal ping the flow of sap and killing the moisture after 8 to 12 hours of drench­ plant. One day a camellia plant will ing. But do not repeat the drench­ look all right and the next day it may ing for you will get into trouble then die. Spray with bordeau mixture by treating camellias as swamp and cut infected parts back to healthy plants. wood. Be sure to disinfect your The condition shown in the follow­ knife and burn infected wood, other­ ing slide has alarmed many people; wise the blight may be carried from but this is merely sunburn. Evapo­ the infected portion to the healthy ration of sap from the leaves takes part. I take the plant and soil and place faster than moisture is brought everything and put it in the incin­ up from the roots, when the rays of erator. In the South, moisture and the sUn come in perpendicular to the warmth combine to spread this leaf surface. Occasionally there is a blight.' case where soil around the roots has (continued on page 14) I I- 10 Northern California Camellia Society, Inc.

TRANSPLANTING but very often people are doing that (continued !rom page 4) very thing: taking camellias out of the ground and putting them back in Next you dig a hole. If the soil which you remove is good enough, containers. mix it with peet moss and leaf mold. If you are going to move from your But if the soil is poor, discard it en­ home it is advisable to take the plants tirely and prepare new soil. out of the ground and transplant them After digging the hole, fill it up in containers at the proper time, dur­ with soil mix to a depth where you ing the dormant season. Don't wait think the plant will set well. Tamp until June or July or August if you the soil down. Of course, if the are going to move during those plant is pot-bound, it is necessary to months. You will not have the suc­ break the roots loose gently at edge cess with your transplanting that you and at bottom of the root-ball. Then would have if you transplanted to set the plant in the hole, and put in containers during the dormant season. soil mix. Firm the soil in just as I did Usually all that is necessary with w hen repotting the Strawberry small plants is to carefully pick them Blonde. up with the shovel and surround I would place the plant 1 to 2 them with a good potting mix in the inches higher than the surrounding container. ground. This allows for settling dur­ If the plant is larger and well es­ ing the first six months. If the ca­ tablished, it will have to be balled mellia is planted just at ground level, and burlapped and then put into the it will settle as the soil firms and will container and surrounded with pot­ be planted too deep. It is better to ting mix without removing burlap. plant it up a little above ground level and allow for settling. Question: Do you put fertilizer in Tie the plant to a stake so that it your potting mix? cannot be easily knocked over or Answer: Some people and a few whipped back and forth during a growers prefer to put fertilizer with wind storm, causing the plant above the potting soil. It is very easy to ground to rock the root-ball. Leave burn the roots by putting too much the stake on for a year or two until fertilizer in the potting mix. If you the roots have taken hold. add fertilizer to the soil mix, as soon Question: Suppose you have poor as you water, the roots are going to soil; how much larger would you get the fertilizer. I would recom­ make the hole? mend putting some fertilizer in the Answer: If the soil is really poor, soil a month or so befme transplant­ I would make the hole 3 feet wide ing. I think a 3-inch potful to a and perhaps 2Yz to 3 feet deep. Then wheelbarrow load would be small buy good soil and fill it in. It will enough to use. Some people rec­ take some time before the roots will ommend a 6-inch potful to a wheel­ take in all that soil. barrow load; but I think this is too much. Others use manure; that is all Question: Would you use rocks right if it is old manure. for drainage if the soil is poor? Answer: If there is not good drain­ Question: How about some sulfur? age, I would use rocks in the bottom Answer: I have never used sul­ of the hole. fur. Sulfur must be used very mildly, Transplanting From Garden sparingly, to get good results. Back Into Containers Question: In lifting plant from the Transplanting from the garden back garden to put it into a tub, how far into containers may sound funny; from the main stem do you dig? Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. 11

Answer: That depends. Suppose tend that the plant is growing right the plant has been in the garden two in the ground where it sits now. This years and has not done well: then is the way I go about it in the nursery. it has not gone much beyond the 3­ Say it is a 10, 12, or 15-year-old plant. gallon size that you originally put into The first thing I would do would be the ground. On the other hand, if to take off the mulch on the ground the plant has been in the ground for around the plant. Scrape it off and quite some time and the roots are put it to one side and see if you are out a ways, you would go out a little down to fibrous roots. Take soil off further from the main stem. You until you see roots of the camellia. have to cut some roots or you You don't want to make the root-ball wouldn't be able to lift the plant. any heavier than necessary. Now take a piece of twine and put Transplanting From One Location In around the trunk, leaving one long The Garden to Another Location end, about the radius of the root-ball Transplanting from one location in you are planning to take. Tie a ten­ the garden to a different location in penny nail at the end of the twine. the garden is an important operation Now take hold of the naiL pull the and is done frequently. Here are twine tight,and using this twine some reasons for transplanting: per­ length as a radius, describe a circle haps the plant is not doing well in by letting the nail cut into the surface that particular location; maybe it is of the ground. Using this circle as in too shady a spot; or maybe the a guide, you should be able to get wind blew down the tree that had an even amount of roots all the way produced the shade; or maybe it will around the plant. fit into your landscaping picture bet­ In using a spade to cut around the ter in some other location. circle, never hold it toward the plant The proper time to perform this and pry against it; instead, hold it operation is during the dormant sea­ away from the plant to keep from son, from November 1 to Mar'Ch 1, breaking into the ball and loosening all the way through the blooming pe­ the earth in the root-ball. So remem­ riod. I perfer to do it early in the ber, never poke the point of the spade season, in November or December, or shovel into the root-ball; but al­ for that gives the transplanted ca­ ways pull it away from the ball. mellia time for new roots to form be­ Now take the spade and force it fore new growth starts; that is, it is down with your foot all around the established by the time new growth circle. In pulling spade out: place starts. foot on ball to prevent earth coming Now I shall show you how to ball up with the spade. Then dig. a a plant. Most people think it is an trench around ball, always digging easy operation. It is easy if you away from ball until you are down know what to do. You might have far enough to undercut. only to lift the plant up with a spade Before you undercut, the best pro­ and carry it to its new location. But cedure is to put a gunny sack all the if the camellia is 10 to 12 years old, way around the top of the ball and the roots have gone out so far that tie it securely around the lower it is necessary to cut quite a few of trunk. Then take cord and come the roots in order to get a root-ball around the root-ball once; then come small enough to handle. around once more a little lower; now The plant that I am using in this you have a double hitch around the demonstration happens to be a Fran­ ball. cine that I took out of a 3-gallon con­ Then you are ready for undercut­ tainer this afternoon; but we shall pre- ting. Begin undercutting on side of 12 Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. ball with biggest amount of sack. Pull USE OF COLCHICINE sack up out of the way and start un­ (continued from page 6) dercutting. When about half under­ trate and wet more thoroughly. This cut, take sack and roll it up or bunch treatment should last from 12 to 96 it up underneath the root-ball. Now hours. As yet no definite data has you have the sack shoved under­ been established as to the duration neath good; then take shovel on op­ and concentration that should be posite side and get as far underneath used. as you can and pry up, making sure that you cut all of the roots. Have Another method of treatment at the shears on hand, ready to cut any roots seedling stage is employed at the that hold. If some roots hold, the ball time of transplanting the seedlings will break. It is good to have plenty from the flat to the pot; that is, if done of room to work in that trench you during the growth periods. Place have dug around the root-ball. Then the roots in a strip of absorbent cotton pull sack from underneath to meet wet with water and roll into a bundle. sack on other side; then bring twine The cotton prevents drying and also underneath and up to top. In pass­ forms a plug that will fit into the ing twine around ball, when you mouth of a small vial. come in contact with twine going the The bundle of plants is then in­ opposite direction, take a half-hitch verted and placed in the vial with and pull gently until tight. This is only the stem ends immersed or in important as it tightens ball. Now contact with the water solution of the take twine down opposite side and material. If treated in this manner, underneath and up to top and tie se­ keeping the roots moist and un­ curely. affected, the high mortality rate will You are then ready to' lift the root­ be less than that which usually fol­ ball out of the hole. Take another lows the treatment of the whole seed­ sack and put it under the ball for the ling. purpose of carrying it. Then move Treatment of Growing camellia to new location and plant Shoots and Buds without removing the burlap. Tips of rapidly growing shoots on Question: What a b out cutting mature plants or seedlings may be roots? treated by brushing or dripping a Answer: We were pretending this drop or more of the solution on the was a 12-year-old plant; the roots exposed tips, one or more times, or were probably way out. You have to by immersing the growing point in cut some of those roots in order to a solution for a number of hours. get a root ball light enough for a man Growing tips may also be smeared to lift and handle to get it to the new with a mixture of 0.2 to 0.5 per cent location in one piece. You should colchicine in hydrous lanolin. In do it without cracking the root-ball. order to facilitate penetration of the solution the wetting agent mentioned You will be surprised how soon above or a detergent should be em­ fibrous roots will form, and they will ployed. The solution of colchicine eventually become big roots. may be used in a 10 per cent water Question: Do you prune plant at solution of glycerine to aid in adher­ this time? ence. Answer: No. Most of the work conducted by the writer has been with seedling Ca­ mellias. This was done in order to The above talk was given at the January 3, 1949 meeting cf the Northern California Ca­ try to find the optimums and the limi­ mellia Society. tations in treatment. The mortality Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. 13 rate has been very, very high on the CAMELLIA SEEDLINGS treated plants, even with solutions as Camellia Seedlings Developed In low as 0.2 to 0.8 per cent. However, Huntington Botanical Gardens with these concentrations at the lower duration treatments mentioned, a (Registered with Southern California good per cent lived. Now the im­ Camellia Society) portant problem is: are the chromo­ Margarete-October 13, 1944 somes doubled? Many times there Robert Casamajor-February 24, 1949 are no outward symptoms. Also Doctor McLean-February 24, 1948 with those that survive the treatment, The above camellias were selected there may be no doubling, yet the from a great number of chance seed­ plants do not resume growth immedi­ lings gathered from beneath mother­ ately. So, as mentioned above, only plants. They are described as time will tell. follows: It is believed that through the use Margarete Hertrich produces for­ of chemicals the chances are much mal, imbricated flowers 10 to 12 em. greater of obtaining something worth­ in diameter; number of petals ranges while than with the 1 to 10,000 chance from 50 to 70; occasionally a few yel­ with open pollinated seedlings. low anthered stamens are displayed. It has been said many times that Color, pure white; flowers lasting; shy bloomer in its juvenile stage. when a person starts propagating and Robert Casamaior is a semi-double grafting Camellias, the "Camellia flower, similar to Mme. Jannoch Bug" has bitten him. In qualifying *(which was among the mentioned this statement, the "Fanatic" stage is shipment from Japan); but a deeper reached when the "Camellia Bug crimson and the petals often more Bitten Man" starts to raise seedlings numerous. The cup-shaped flowers from his own cross-pollinated flowers, hold their color well and do not be­ and through the use of chemicals, he come purplish with age. is able to build bigger and better Dr. McLean flowers densely dou­ castles in the sky. ble-shaped; 8 to 12 em. in diameter; Extreme care should be taken while 5 to 6 em. high. Bracts and sepals using colchicine in order to avoid pubescent; floral petals vary consid­ drastic results, for this material is erably in shape, the outer ones the poisonous. If the skin should come largest. Petals number 40 to 50; peta­ in contact with it, wash immediately loids often twice as many. with soap and water. • See page 5 of June 1949 issue of Bulletin.

ANNUA.L DUES ARE NOW DUE AND PAYABLE

Please mail your check to

DR. G. MYRON GRISMORE, TREASURER, 1624 FRANKLIN ST., OAKLAND 12. 14 Northern California Camellia Society, Inc.

Selecting Varieties to Spread Bloom then shows stamens. It is a lovely Over Long Season corsage flower. It is possible to select varieties of FRIZZLE WHITE is one of K. Sa­ camellias that will spread bloom over wada's seedlings (Overlook Nurs­ a long season. To illustrate, I shall eries, Mobile, Alabama), and a fine show slides, divided into color example of the lovely new type hav­ classes, beginning with the first to ing long fluted petals and petaloids. bloom and proceeding to midseason WHITE EMPRESS too is one of K. and late bloomers under each color. Sawada's seedlings and is somewhat similar in form to Frizzle White. White Blooms MARGARETE HERTRICH is a seed­ SEPTEMBER MORN-I had this va­ ling from Huntington Botanical Gar­ riety as an unlabeled plant for five dens in San Marino and is named years and was trying to find a suit­ after the wife of William Hertrich, Cu­ able name for it. One day I said, rator Emeritus. The flower is a com­ "This variety comes out nicely in plete-double, fully imbricated pure­ bloom by September; at first it is white. It is a thoroughly lovely white and then blushes about it, and flower of good substance and does I am going to name it September not shatter easily. Margarete Hert­ Morn." rich should be added to any collec­ A few days later Gordon Court­ tion. right of the East Bay Nursery in Berke­ PAX is a white sport of Laurel Leaf. ley came down to my place and It is an exceedingly lovely fully­ asked me to go with him down South imbricated flower, not shaped exactly to the Gulf Coast. The first nursery like Laurel Leaf. Add this to your we visited was Flowerwood, which collection; it is a must. Judge Smith had built for his son. LOTUS is a snow white, extremely Vlfhile showing us around the nurs­ large semi-double with broad and ery, the manager said, "Tell Mr. somewhat crinkled petals, opening Carter about that early camellia you wide, suggesting a rare water lily. are propagating." It is exquisite in flower arrangements. "Yes," said Judge Smith, "it is by WHITE PERFECTION is medium in far the earliest to bloom and I have size, completely double, regular-im­ decided to name it September Morn." bricated. IMURA is another K. Sawada seed­ Since then another nursery gave it ling; a water-lily type with long, nar­ the name Albatross; but I believe that row· petals. bird was supposed to be snow white MATHOTIANA ALBA is a lovely, while this takes on a blush-pink after very late white, massive, fully-double it has been open a while. This va­ regular-imbricated; a delicate pink riety is often called Yohei Haku, but petal in an occasional bloom. Should I understand from Toichi Domoto be planted in a cool location. that this is a misnomer, for the real Yohei Haku is a distinct variety. DAIKAGURA WHITE-In a year or ALBA PLENA is the next early white. two we shall have a snow-white Dai­ FIMBRIATA is the fimbriated form of kagura. I have been privileged to photograph it and I can assure you Alba Plena. it is one of the loveliest of the whties. ABUNDANCE-I called this variety Abundance because it is an abundant Red Blooms bloomer, not knowing at the time that IMPERATOR-Very large Christ­ there was already a white variety un­ mas red; peony type. der this name in the deep South. MRS. CHARLES COBB-Large, rich The flower retains its closed rosebud­ dark red, peony type. Very fine. like center for three or four days and Vigorous grower. Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. 15

FLAME (Domoto introduction) Deep this variety in their yard, but did not flame red semi-double. know what it was, so they called it FIMBRIATA SUPERBA Vermillion Co!' Firey for the husband. The red. Large, semi-double with curled, original name was C. M. Hovey. Dark deeply fibriated petals. red; large, formal double. ADOLPHE AUDUSSON RED-Dark TE DEUM (Dr. Shepherd) Gorgeous rich red, veined deeper red. Very red. Very large, to 7 inches in di­ large semi-double. ameter. Many blossoms will remain MATHOTIANA (Julia Drayton) Ex­ completely closed with rosebud cen­ tremely large, to 7 inches in diameter, ter; others will open and show sta­ incomplete-imbricated double with mens. Small plants do not show high center, opening later to show many bloom buds. stamens; rose red, petals sometimes ST. ANDRE Maroon red. Very shading to purplish on outer edges. large, with tufted center. Best ex­ Spectacular. tremely late red. BLACK DRAGON-Very dark red. KURO-TSUBAKI-Outside of petals Large, incomplete double with large blackish wine-red, inside of petals petals, showing stamens. very dark vermillian red, netted vein­ GLEN 40-Deep red. Formal to in­ ing, almost black. Nothing else like complete imbricated, showing a few it. Would be interesting to cross it stamens in the center after opening. with Glen 40 to get a rich dark red. Mr. Carter's suggestions for Pink Blooms and MONARCH-Very large full peony Variegated Blooms will be given in the next issue type, multiple center; red, sometimes of the Bul;etin. slightly clouded. The above talk was given at the Cecember C. M. HOVEY (Co!. Firey) A family 6. 1948 meeting of the Northern California living at Pomona had a large plant of Camellia Society. Inc.

CAMELLIA FLOWER CLASSIFICATION

The Camellia Flower Classification listing which was given out prior to the 1949 Annual Camellia Show is in process of revision. Please mail your corrections on or before October 15, 1949.

f

BARLOW W. S. HOLLINGSHEAD Chairman. Committee on Nomenclature and Classification 12 La Cintilla Avenue Orinda 2, California 16 Northern California Camellia Society, Inc.

SILVERY PINK Silvery pink, medium-sized complete double regular imbricated; com­ pact upright grower.

GLEN 40 Large, deep-red double blooms with scarlet undertones, regular imbricated or incomplete imbricated.

ELEANOR HAGOOD Pale pink, late-bloom­ ing, from incomplete double with large petals to complete double regular imbri­ cated.

Courtesy SUNSET MAGAZINE Photograph by Herbert V. Mitchell