JUNE. 161 



CHINESE AZALEAS. 



(Plate 101.) 

 The Chinese Azalea is most certainly at the head of ornamental 

 plants ; nothing can be grander than the huge bushes we each 

 year see at the London exhibitions, with the foliage completely 

 hid by their gorgeous flowers, varying in tint from carmine and 

 crimson to the purest white. Nor is it for exhibition purposes alone 

 in which the principal merits of the Chinese Azalea consist. To 

 the amateur and country gardener, who, if not growing plants for 

 exhibition, has got to keep his greenhouse or conservatory gay 

 with flowers through the winter and spring, nothing so completely 

 answers his purpose as the Azalea. A slight amount of forcing 

 (which it bears easily) brings it into bloom early ; and by a little 

 management, forcing and retarding, this useful plant may be had 

 in flower from January to the end of June. This will convey no 

 mean idea of its value as a decorative plant for the conservatory, 

 or for filling boxes, baskets, &c., in halls, drawing-rooms, &c. It 

 is, besides, a plant easy to grow (when its cultivation is once 

 understood), can be purchased for a small sum, and may be 

 wintered even in a cold pit, with the protection of a mat over them 

 in frosty weather ; in fact, a few degrees of frost will not injure 

 them materially, when they are in a dormant state, but this may 

 as well be avoided, if possible. Our readers may think that we 

 have now said enough in favour of the Azalea; and so, no 

 doubt, we have for those who know its good properties, but we 

 cannot help thinking that many find some difficulty in growing it, 

 for it is a plant we do not often see in the greenhouses or pits of 

 amateurs, and when we do they are mostly loose, straggling 

 things, deficient in bloom, and generally covered with insects ; 

 and as we have the opportunity of presenting our readers, this 

 month, with two new seedling varieties, perhaps a few hints on 

 their general management will not be out of place, as an accom- 

 paniment to the plate. 



The class we are here describing are popularly called Chinese 

 Azaleas (to distinguish them from the American and Levant 

 sections, which are hardy), but very many kinds have been 

 originated by English and continental gardeners, by hybridisa- 

 tion. The first species which reached us from China was A. 

 indica and its varieties, including i. alba (the old white) and 

 phoenicea ; and subsequently we obtained varicgata, lateritia, 

 sinensis, doulde red, &c. ; from these and the indica section all 

 our best modern varieties have leen raised, by repeated crossings. 

 But notwithstanding the great improvement, in size of bloom, 

 form, and colour, which many of the seedlings sent out, both by 

 English and continental gardeners, possess, it will be some time 



NEW SERIES, VOL. V., NO. LIV. M 



