THE AZALEA. 



163 



THE PROPAGATION OF AZALEAS. 



The instruction which I have presumed 

 to offer on the subject of the Azaleas of 

 India, for the benefit of young amateurs, 

 (and only for them I write, not pretending 

 to dictate to accomplished cultivators,) 

 would not be at all complete, if I omitted 

 the subjects of increase or propagation 

 which best suits these plants. I shall be 

 as brief as the nature of the subject per- 

 mits, so as to be understood. 



Grafting. — The modes of grafting most 

 practised with Azaleas, are branch grafting, 

 termed a cheval, en fenie, or en placage. 

 They are also grafted, but more rarely, en 

 approche, by approach, or par copulation, 

 (inarching,) the most frequently en herbe. 

 (These terms may be thus translated, a che- 

 val, saddle grafting ; en ftnte, cleft graft- 

 ing ; en placage, veneer grafting ; en ap- 

 proche, by approach ; en herbe, herbaceous 

 grafting, or when the wood is green.) The 

 operation may be performed at any season, 

 but the most favorable time is the latter 

 part of May or beginning of June. The 

 young shoots must have attained a certain 

 maturity, a circumstance depending entire- 

 ly on the temperature applied during the 

 winter, whether cold or warm, and which 

 necessarily advances or retards their growth. 

 The grafted plants should be placed in a 

 green-house, or under frames, whichever is 

 preferred, and covered with a bell-glass, 

 on slight hot-beds, or they may be kept very 

 close until the perfect union of the parts, 

 nor must any air be given them, until full 

 vegetation is perceived. 



The stocks best adapted to receive the 

 grafts of the finest varieties, are in prefe- 

 rence to other kinds, the Azalea indica phe- 

 nicea, or the wild stock of the Azaleas of 

 India, and if these cannot be had, the Jiho- 

 dodendron ponticum. 1 shall briefly give a 

 description of the difl!erent methods of graft- 



ing practised. The grafting knife should 

 be perfectly clean and sharp. 



Grafting a cheval. — The graft is cut at 

 its base in a prolonged acute angle. The 

 stock cut at the head, receives the same 

 angle in the opposite direction, that is an 

 acute angle projecting. 



Grafting enfente. — The graft is cut thin 

 on both sides, at an acute angle, or length- 

 ened wedge ; the head of the stock is sim- 

 ply notched vertically (with dexterity and 

 very slightly,) to receive the wedge of the 

 graft. 



Grafting en placage. — The graft and 

 stock are notched vertically and squarely, 

 each receiving equal notches, to permit 

 them to join completely. This mode is to 

 be preferred. 



Inarching or Grafting par copulation, — 

 The end of the stock is cut slopihg, that of 

 the graft the same, very even, and in such 

 a manner that the two portions will accu- 

 rately fit one another. 



Grafting en approche. — On the stock a 

 vertical cut is made more or less deep, with 

 a notch also of some depth, and a part of 

 the head is cut off", so as to carry the sap 

 into the graft. This is cut in the same 

 manner precisely, quite as deep, but leav- 

 ing the notch jutting out, so that the two 

 parts can be perfectly joined. This method 

 is but seldom used, because of its inconve- 

 nience, as it is necessary for the two plants 

 to be side by side until union is effected, 

 after which the two plants are separated by 

 cutting off the stock. 



Such are, in a few words, the difl^erent 

 methods of increasing Azaleas by grafting. 

 I may add, that the stock can be large with- 

 out inconvenience, indeed this is usually 

 the case ; the different cuts should be made 

 with great care and neatness, without be- 

 ing frayed, [sans iraillures,) their surfaces 

 very equal, so that they may be exactly ap- 



