I873-] THE CHINESE AZALEA. 451 



that growth, is necessary. Supposing that we have to deal with a set 

 of young plants in 8 or 9 inch pots that have bloomed freely, two 

 courses are open to the cultivator, just according to the object he has 

 in view. If he wants to have moderate-sized plants for special pur- 

 poses or reasons, and if the plants were shifted the previous year, they 

 need not be repotted. But as soon as they have done blooming, let all 

 the seed-vessels be removed, and give the plants a vigorous syringing, 

 and then place them in a cool place to rest for a time. This resting is 

 especially applicable to those which may bloom, without at the same time 

 forcing their wood-buds into growth. After resting for a few weeks, 

 place them in stove heat, shade them from bright sunshine, and syringe 

 them freely every fine afternoon, and shut up with sun-heat, raising 

 the thermometer for a time to 85° or 90''. Give more or less air 

 every day. If they are thoroughly well rooted, they will make an 

 even growth all over the plant ; but should any shoots much outstrip 

 the others, pinch them back and they will break again. Supply them 

 copiously with water at the root, never allowing them to touch the 

 flagging point, and avoiding, on the other hand, a soddened condition. 

 When watered, make sure that they get a thorough soaking ; and if 

 the plants show signs that a little stimulus in the way of clear soot 

 or very weak guano-water would be beneficial, let it be applied at 

 every third watering. Continue this heat and moisture treatment 

 until the flower-buds can be felt between the finger and thumb. Then 

 the heat may be gradually decreased and air increased. They should 

 also be gradually inured to more sun until exposed to the full force of 

 it, to ripen them thoroughly before the autumn. In some climates, 

 where there is no chance of their being soddened with rains, they 

 may be stood outdoors for a month in the full sun. 



If it be desirable to increase the size of the plants with as much 

 speed as possible, the plants should be shifted as soon as, after resting, 

 they begin to grow freely. In this case, do not water so freely, but 

 syringe the same as already directed, until they begin to bite the fresh 

 soil, when they will of course take a full supply of water. Any ram- 

 pant growths should especially in this case be kept pinched back, so as 

 to balance the growth and symmetry of the plants. Of course shifting 

 in any case is only desirable when the plants are thoroughly well 

 rooted; but when rapid growth into big plants is the object, they 

 should never remain so long in one pot as to become stunted and 

 weak in growth, or it will be difficult to get them to become so 

 vigorous after they are shifted. 



When for special reasons it is undesirable or impossible to shift 

 annually or biennially, and after the plants have bloomed profusely 

 in the same pot for a few years, they become weakly, and do not make 



