Peninsula Enterprise

Baker Barnes Is Vice Pres. San Diego Camellia Society First Show Given February 8th. History Is Very Interesting

C. Baker Barnes, a retired U. S. Coast Guard Officer, formerly of Gargatha, Va., who is now making his home in San Diego, Cal., is making growing of Camellias a hobby. He was recently elected Vice President of the San Diego Camellia Society and was very active in staging the first show by the society on February 8th. In a letter from Mr. Barnes, he gives some information about Camellias and the weather in San Diego this winter, as follows:

"The history of the camellia is very interesting also. They are a native of Eastern Asia and Korea, brought to Europe and England in trading ships in the 18th century, and propagated there. They found their way to this country in colonial days, and were a great favorite in the southern gardens of that day, where the climate and soil were to their liking and of course flourished. Great camellia trees may be found all over the south today grown from these early plantings in colonial days. The Bellingrath Gardens, near Mobile, Ala., which we had the pleasure of visiting on our way east last spring, have collected over 500 varieties from all over the south, varying in size from small plants to 40 foot trees. It is well worth seeing. Camellia propagation and growth in California is of comparative recent date. There are many nice specimens in and around Sacramento, where they appear to have been a great favorite in the 1850s. They seem to have been the favorite among people of culture and leisure. Often they are referred to as the "Royal Family of Flowers." The hardier varieties will grow out of doors as far north in the U. S. as approximately Norfolk, Va.

"We have had cooler than usual weather out here this winter, in fact, down to freezing one or two mornings. There has been very little rain, none measurable in January, and winter crops that depend on rain have suffered greatly."