THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 93 



spergula to form a greea glacis. If there is a large bulk of soil, the roots 

 are kept sufficieatly moist, aud there is no fear of the loss of plants in wet 

 seasons through rotting at the collar, which is a calamity to which 

 azaleas are occasionally subject. As in some districts peat is an expensive 

 article, it is right to add that if the situation is damp, one foot depth of 

 soil is sufficient. If peat is altogether unattainable, a good soil may be 

 formed by slicing the turf from an old loamy pasture, and laying it up 

 twelve months. This mixed with one-third sharp sand will suit them ad- 

 mirably. "We have lately planted a large collection of rhododendrons and 

 azaleas on a property consisting of a tenacious clay without carting in a 

 particle of peat. We found in one part of the ground a spongy soil, con- 

 sisting chiefly of huge hummocks of moss, carex, and calluna, the surface 

 was sliced off and conveyed to the beds direct, and after being chopped 

 over and improved by the addition of a fourth part sand, the shrubs were 

 planted, and will do as well as in peat. But common garden loams are 

 quite unfit for the jJiirpose, and calcareous matters are poison to the whole 

 family. 



Propagation. — Layers made in the month of March will be fit for 

 removal in the same month, the second season after the layers were made. 

 The layers must be notched or twisted, and be pegged down very securely. 

 It is best to surround them with a bunch of dead moss, into which they 

 the more readily throw their first roots ; seedlings may be raised in any 

 quantity, for the plants produce abundance of seed. Old beds will, indeed, 

 be found to produce numerous seedlings from self-sown seeds, and these 

 usually come pretty true to the species from which they originated. The 

 hybridization of the azalea has been pursued in a most vigorous manner, 

 and the result is seen in the numerous beautiful varieties enumerated in 

 the catalogues. The rhododendron and azalea readily breed together, and 

 there are several useful intermediate forms. 



In crossing, the pollen is chosen from flowers of good colour, and those 

 selected to bear seed are preferred for their good forms. The flower chosen 

 for seed should be watched, so that the anthers may be removed before 

 they burst, and should then be covered with gauze to prevent the intrusion 

 of insects. Gather the pollen from the sii-e with a dry camel's hair pencil, 

 and introduce it to the stigmas during the hours of midday, when the air 

 is dry and the sky bright. When the seed is ripe store it in the pods ; 

 sow in April, and place in a cold frame and grow the seedlings in pans for 

 twelve months ; and then plant out in beds six inches apart, and there 

 leave them till they flower. Those only that are as good or better than 

 what we already possess should be kept. The remainder should be destroyed. 

 Those who have had practice in propagating ericas and camellias may suc- 

 ceed in raising hardy azaleas from firm shoots of the current year's growth, 

 but the process is slow and uncertain. 



Desirable Species and Varieties. — A. pontiea, formerly catalogued as 

 Hhododendron luteum, is the yellow-flowering species of the Levant, and 

 one of the most gorgeous flowering shrubs of our gardens. There are of 

 this species numerous varieties with bronze, orange, and white flowers ; 

 the last named are the least effective for out-door use. A. calendulacea, 

 the marigold like azalea of IS^orth America, is also very desirable for 

 ornamental purposes, and invaluable for the fronts of shrubberies and for 

 beds. Of this species there are some fine varieties with golden, fiame, 

 and reddish yellow flowers. A. nudijiora has been more prolific than any 



