540 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



ever beautiful Azaleas may appear during tlie early autumn months 

 when placed amongst other flowering-plants, it is not really neces- 

 sary to have them in flower before Christmas, as plenty of others may 

 be had in bloom, by which a brilliant and bountiful supply of flowers 

 can be produced. It is wise to delay the forcing of such plants, if 

 they can be spared, so as to give them as complete a season of rest 

 as possible. A good plan is to train and prepare a few Azaleas in 

 case any failure should occur in the growing of other easier subjects. 

 If not wanted they can readily be retarded, and will afterwards, when 

 placed in warmth, quickly unfold their flowers. In forcing Azaleas 

 or Rhododendrons into bloom, the operation should be gradual, so as 

 to excite them gently into activity, and then allow the flowers to ex- 

 pand under as cool conditions as the plants will bear without check 

 or injury. When unfolded under such circumstances they not only 

 possess better colour and substance, but last longer, both for decora 

 tion and cutting. Flowers generally are in great demand about 

 Christmas — especially white ones, which are eagerly sought after at 

 that festive season. Unfortunately we do not possess a good double 

 w^hite Pelargonium that will produce flowers freely at that time — 

 in fact none of the varieties are of much service for either autumn 

 or winter. I have tried P. candidissima jjleno, Madame Baltet, 

 Nymphe, and others : these are three of the best that can be grown 

 in their season, but next to useless for the dark days of winter. If 

 preference can be given to either, it is the last named. Double 

 white Primulas are invaluable, and should be grown in quantity, 

 as there is no comparison between the double and single forms for 

 cutting purposes. White Azaleas are indispensable, and the following 

 should be largely grown for the supply at Christmas : A. indica alba 

 and A. narcissiflora, a beautiful semi-double flower, even earlier than 

 the old white. Some cultivators imagine that A. indica alba has to 

 be grown a long time before it will flower profusely on its own roots, 

 but this is a mistake. It will bloom splendidly in 5-inch pots — a 

 capital size in which to grow it ; but if potted on and allowed plenty 

 of root-room, it will produce strong, long shoots, which are bare of 

 leaves by the time it has rested or come into flower. This straggling 

 habit can to a large extent be prevented, if kept in the size of pots 

 mentioned, and pruned over once or twice after flowering. When 

 worked on small stems this variety assumes a more compact head. 

 The blooms are grand for using in many positions for church decora- 

 tion, especially for furnishing the bases of windows. If green moss 

 can be obtained, and the base covered with it, and the flowers dotted 

 into it singly, and a drop of water placed in the centre of each flower, 

 they remain fresher and last longer. It is not necessary to cut any 

 wood with the flower, the tiny stem being sufficient. 



For flowering at this season of the year Pelargoniums are amongst 

 the most striking, and will, when properly treated, flower through the 



