Plate 395. 

 AZALEA, SIE ROBERT NAPIER. 



The past two seasons have nol brought man) additions to 

 our Azaleas in the \\a\ of new and promising varieties. Some 

 few years hack we had a large number of new sorts, both from 

 foreign and home raisers; but neither this season nor last have 

 many of any great novelty been exhibited. And hence we 

 gladly take the opportunity of figuring one which we believe 

 to be the finest flower of the season, and a most novel and 

 distinct sort. 



The exhibitions of Azaleas this season have been charac- 

 terized by the production of probably the finest plants that 

 have ever been brought forward, and we believe for the last 

 time, in the neighbourhood of London, as we understand that 

 Mr. Turner has disposed of some of his most remarkable and 

 well-known plants, anil that they will from henceforth -race 

 the exhibitions in the neighbourhood of Manchester, as nei- 

 ther in Azaleas nor Pelargoniums is it his intention to exhibit 

 as he has heretofore done. No change has taken place as yet 

 in the manner in which Azaleas are exhibited, the same stiff 

 and cramped firms being seen at all the shows. It seems to 

 us very undesirable; for when we were visiting the grounds of 

 Archdeacon Crofts, at Saltwood, near Hythe, we saw plants of 

 Azalea Indica alba, which had been grown in the open ground 

 for years, and for beauty of form and profusion of bloom could 

 hardly be equalled anywhere. 



We are indebted to the well-known firm of Messrs. F. and 

 A. Smith, of Dulwich, by whom it was raised, for the opportu- 

 nity of figuring this tine variety. It is. as will be seen from the 

 Plate, of medium size, but of D) far the deepest shade of crim- 

 son that has yet been produced amongst Azaleas. The habit 



