JULY. 



137 



THE CHINESE AZALEA. 



This must be admitted to be one of the most ornamental 

 plants that grace our conservatories, greenhouses, or exhibi- 

 tion-tents during the earlier months of the year. According to 

 Paxton's Botanical Dictionary , we find that the first species 

 of this lovely genus (A. indica) was introduced from China 

 in 1808, and A. sinensis, A. variegata, A. phoenicea, and A. 

 ledifolia, in 1823-4; since then we have been favoured with 

 A. Danielsiana, A. exquisita, and a few others ; and from these 

 have sprung the numerous kinds now in cultivation. The 

 variation in colour of many of the varieties (particularly some 

 of the new hybrids) is so exceedingly beautiful, and the abun- 

 dance of flowers which they produce so great, that they have 

 become great favourites with every one. Most of the sorts 

 may be had in bloom from Christmas to Midsummer, merely 

 by forcing a few of the earlier kinds, and keeping the others 

 in a cool greenhouse. 



The following list contains most of the best varieties at 

 present in cultivation : 



* Barclayana (I very 's), very large, white slightly striped with purple ; fine shape 



and free bloomer. 

 Broughtonii (Knight's), lilac-purple, large, and good shape. 



* Beauty of Reigate (I very 's), white striped and spotted with crimson ; fine form 



and very free bloomer. 

 Carminata (Pawley's), large, dark crimson ; good form and free bloomer. 

 Conspicua purpurea, very large, rosy purple ; good shape and free bloomer. 

 Coronata, beautiful bright dark rosy purple ; good form and free bloomer. 



* Delicata (Ivery's), large, bright salmon-pink; good shape and free bloomer. 

 Duke of Devonshire (Pince's), very large, crimson ; good form and free 



bloomer. 



* Exquisita (Knight's), mottled with rose and white; distinct, and pretty free 



bloomer. 



* Gledstanesii, white slightly striped with crimson ; fine shape and free bloomer. 

 GrenvilleK (Frost's), very large crimson ; good shape and free bloomer. 



* Iveryana (Ivery's), very fine large white slightly striped with rosy pink ; fine 



shape and immense bloomer. 



* Lateritia, brick red ; fine form and free bloomer. 



* Lateritia formosa (Ivery's), large, bright red, and fine shape. 



* Murrayana (Kinghom's), large, bright rose ; fine form and free bloomer. 

 Optima (Knight's), very large, bright light red ; fine shape and free 



bloomer. 

 Perry ana (Knight's), large, bright light red ; beautiful form and free bloomer. 

 Rubens (Smith's), fine dark crimson ; good shape and free bloomer. 



* Rosea elegans (I very), large, bright rosy pink ; fine form and free bloomer. 

 Sinensis, beautiful orange yellow ; good shape, free bloomer, and very distinct. 

 Symmetry (Lee's), bright crimson; fine form and free bloomer. 



* Variegata, beautiful mottled pink and white ; fine shape and free bloomer. 

 Violacea Superb, large, bright violet ; distinct and free bloomer. 



NEW SERIES. VOL. II. NO. XIX. N 



