AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 149 
Azalea—continued. 
popular hardy deciduous shrubs. When plants are grown 
in the open, artificial crossing will be unnecessary ; but this 
method must be employed upon those grown in the cool 
greenhouse, if well fertilised seeds are required. The seed 
should be gathered and sown when ripe in a large shallow 
frame containing from 2in. to 3in. of peat, over which more 
peat must be laid very level by means of a fine sieve; 
or they may be kept until early the following spring. No 
covering will be necessary, but a thorough watering with 
a fine-rosed water-pot must be given. The lights should 
be darkened, and the frames kept close until the young 
seedlings begin to appear, when they must have air (care- 
fully admitted), shade, and a daily sprinkling of water. By 
the autumn, they will be large enough to transplant in 
small clumps into boxes of peat and coarse sand, and to 
place in other frames, or in the open. In each case, they 
will need watering, shading, and to be kept close until 
growth commences. ‘The hardier the plants are before 
winter commences, the better; but a protection of mats or 
similar material will prevent the probability of their being 
killed by severe frosts. During the following season, they 
will only require water during dry weather, and no pro- 
tection need be afforded this winter. The next spring, they 
should be planted out singly in beds, sufficiently wide apart 
to allow the development of two years’ growth. If an 
upright growth is being made, the leading shoot must be 
shortened, in order to secure dwarf, well-branched plants. 
The same methods should be employed on a smaller scale 
where but a few are wanted. Grafting is largely prac- 
tised to increase the stock of named varieties or choice 
seedlings, the stock employed being A. pontica. This 
process, of course, ensures the quicker production of flower- 
ing plants. Layering in March, encasing the part buried 
with moss, is also some times practised; but the layer 
must be left two years before separating. Cuttings of the 
last year’s wood, 2in. or 8in. long, taken with a ‘heel, 
root readily in sand; about the end of August is the best 
time for so doing. If they are pricked off in pots or 
pans of sandy soil, and kept in a cool frame until they 
are calloused, and afterwards introduced into a slight 
bottom heat, they root quicker, but this is not absolutely 
essential. When placed outside, they should be covered 
with a handlight for about two months, and, at the end 
of this time, air should be gradually given and increased. 
Ghent Azaleas are now forced extensively for the market 
as well as in private gardens; and, by judicious culture, 
they can be had in full blossom by Christmas. With this 
end in view, they should be grown in pots, and have the 
growth prematurely completed soon after flowering with 
the aid of a little artificial heat; after which they may 
be placed outside. During very hot and dry weather, the 
north side of a wall is necessary, to prevent their flower- 
ing in the autumn. The same plants must only be forced 
every alternate year. Commence to place the plants in 
heat in October, and keep up a succession until the 
following March. The best plants for forcing purposes 
are obtained from the Continent, where they are grown 
in enormous quantities. When grown permanently out 
of doors, the most suitable soil is peat and rough sand 
_ mixed. Failing this, leaf mould, maiden loam, and sand, 
will be found satisfactory. In many cases, we have known 
them to flourish in ordinary garden soil. 
fine ; 
= 
w; MIRABILIS, very lovely pi 
ICA MA 
ink, ve 
and 
p 
e pe pa 
pa AON, rich yellow, Fone yn PONTI 
ur, very large and L 
very fine; SANGUINEA, deep 
good; MARIA VERSCHAF- 
` Azalea—continued. 
A. arborescens (tree-like).* f. large, reddish, not clammy, 
leafy ; tube of corolla longer than the segments; a yY, 
with the segments oblong and acute. May. l, of the flower 
buds large; yellowish-brown, surrounded with a fringed white 
border, obovate, rather obtuse, smooth on both surfaces, glau- 
cous beneath, ciliated on the margins, and having the midrib 
almost smooth. h. l0ft. to 20ft. Pennsylvania, 1818. Deciduous 
species. 
balsaminzeflora (Balsam-flowered).* fl. bright salmony red, 
finely double and _rosette-like, the segments regularly imbri- 
cated, much resembling in general appearance the blooms of a 
Camellia-flowered Balsam. Japan, Itis a distinct species, and 
remains in bloom for a considerable period ; the flowers are in- 
en “im bouquets. See Fig. 196, for which we are indebted 
r. Bull, 
A. calendulacea (Marigold-like).* jl. yellow, red, orange, and 
copper coloured, large, not clammy, rather naked ; tube of corolla 
hairy, shorter than the segments. May. J. oblong, pubescent on 
both surfaces, at length hairy. Ah. 2ft. to 6ft. Ponnapiveaia to 
Cani, ae This is saig to he Mo inane shrub in North 
merica, ere are several varieties of it in ivation. Hardy; 
deciduous. (B. M. 1721, 2143.) 7? 
A. hispida (bristly). /l. white, with a red border and a tinge 
of red on the tube, which is wide and scarcely longer than 
the ents, very clammy, leafy; stamens ten. July. J. long- 
lanceolate, hispid above, and smooth beneath, glaucous on 
both surfaces, ciliated on the margins, and having the nerve 
bristly beneath. Branches straight, and very ) h. 10ft. 
ee” re York, &c., 1734. A hardy deciduous species, 
. D. B. 1, 6.) J 
Fig, 197. FLOWER OF AZALEA LEDIFOLIA, ; 
ledifolia (Ledum-leaved).* ure white, showy; corolla 
campanulate; in threes o tne Karat mai the branches; 
calyx gland and viscid. h. i 
erect, ular, ¢ March. l ic-lanceo- 
late. A. 2ft. to 6ft. China, 1819. ‘The whole shrub is very 
* > vi le . . . 
te o i OTereTee : m 
A. liliiflora (lily-flowered). Synonymous with A. ledifolia. 
n on both surfaces, ciliated on the margins, 
h. 3tt. to 
A. pontica (Pontic).* fl. leafy, clammy ; corolla funnel-s 
stamens very long. May. J. shining, ovate, oblon 
ciliated. h. 4ft. to 6ft. Levant, Caucasus, 
varieties of this species are also nu 
Spuy in the colour of the flowers and the 
The flowers are of all shades, and 
name generally adopted, as / 
with Rhododendron ponticum. If 
