THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 371 



in with a mixture of yellow loam, two parts ; peat, one part ; quite 

 rotten dung, one part ; and sharp sand, one part. Earn the stuff in 

 firm all round, give one good watering, and set the plant aside till 

 the time comes to force them. This process of shifting may be per- 

 formed immediately after the flowering is over ; but if shifted at 

 that time, they should be placed on a bottom-heat of 65" to 70', to 

 promote the formation of the roots in the new soil. As for pruning, 

 any moderate shortening in may be done at any time, but the best 

 time is immediately after flowering. 



We sometimes meet with old scrubby azaleas that have been 

 much neglected. The best way to recover these is to keep them 

 cool till March, and then cut them down to the shape and size 

 required. Immediately after this operation, lay them on their sides 

 on a moist propagating-bed. or on a very sweet dung-bed, giving no 

 water at the root, but frequently plying the syringe with tepid water 

 on the old wood. A heat of 70" is the utmost they should be sub- 

 jected to, and indeed G(-'° will suffice, if no more can be afforded. 

 They will soon begin to bristle with little green shoots, and when 

 these are half an inch or so long, knock the plants out of their pots, 

 and pick the earth out from amongst the roots, and cut the roots 

 back considerably, and finish by potting them in as small pots as 

 they can be got into, to allow of an inch of fresh soil all around for the 

 new roots to run into. They must be immediately stood on a tan-bed, 

 or on any surface heated to 70^, and there be kept in a sort of vapour- 

 bath, but have very little water at the roots until they are growing 

 freely. Then gradually increase tlie supply of water to the root, and 

 diminish the degree of humidity in the air, and you will in due time 

 have a fine growth. This is a golden rule for grinding old people 

 young in the queendom of Flor a, and it applies particularly to hard- 

 wooded plants that have become old and ugly, such as camellias, 

 oranges, etc., etc. ; but it does not apply to heaths, for they will not 

 stand the heat, and indeed the best way to treat old and ugly heaths 

 is to throw them away. 



To propagate azaleas is a most easy matter, but success depends 

 on taking the cuttings at the proper time. Take cuttings of the 

 young shoots when they are about two inches long, when they are 

 quite soft, but yet have made a good growth. The garden term for 

 this condition ia " half-ripe." If getting woody, they will not strike ; 

 if very sappy, they will quickly rot. Having made the cuttings, 

 dibble them into silver-sand, sprinkle them slightly, cover with bell- 

 glasses, and let them remain in a warm house for a week. Then 

 place them on a bottom-heat of GO" to 70', and keep them always 

 moist, but never wet, until they begin to grow at the points, when 

 the bell-glasses must be taken olf. About a week after that, pot them 

 separately in small pots filled with equal parts of peat and silver-sand, 

 put them on a gentle heat, again use the syringe upon them regu- 

 larly, and they will soon till their pots with roots. You now have 

 but to shift them on annually, and to pinch out the points of the 

 young shoots to promote a bushy habit, and in due time they will 

 repay you for your care. 



In selecting azaleas, a few of the most distinct and strikins: will 



