438 



HORTICULTURE 



May 29, 1920 



RAMBLING OBSERVATIONS OF 

 A ROVING GARDENER 



I find, for example, that Azalea Vaseyi 

 is featured in a special and very showy 

 catalogue issued by Hicks, of Long 

 Island, under the title of "Feast of 

 Flowers." A full page cut In color 

 gives a good idea of the plant's value. 



Without doubt Azalea Vaseyi is one 

 of the loveliest shrubs for spring 

 blooming. It has become well estab- 

 lished in the Arnold Arboretum, and 

 has been blooming very freely this 

 season in the parkway between Bos- 

 ton and Jamaica Plain. As seen 

 through the other shrubbery on the 

 hanks of streams it presents a strik- 

 ingly beautiful picture, the soft pink 

 flowers being matched in color by 

 few other blooms. It is a native species 

 that might well become much better 

 known, and it lends itself splendidly 

 to cultivation, becoming more spread- 



ing in character than when growins 

 wild in its original Carolina moun- 

 tains. At the same time it retains its 

 slender, graceful habit of growth, and 

 its spring beauty is rivaled by its fall 

 display when the leaves turn a deep, 

 dark crimson. 



This Azalea was discovered in 1878. 

 and was introduced. I understand, by 

 Harlan P. Kelsey, of Salem, who owns 

 the Highland Nurseries, of North 

 Carolina. Mr. Kelsey has done garden 

 lovers a service by getting these 

 plants into cultivation, and of course, 

 other nurserymen have taken them up 



The people of Missouri and adjoin- 

 ing states are very fortunate in having 

 the Missouri Botanical Gardens, at St. 

 Louis, to help them with their horti- 

 cultural problems. It is a magnificent 

 institution, splendidly conducted, and 

 of constant service to all garden mak- 

 ers, .professional and amateur. It is 

 constantly disseminating information 

 of value to greenhouse men, including 

 the growers of orchids and other 

 tender plants, and yet does not neglect 

 the man with the small home garden. 

 Its bulletins are mines of helpful sug- 



Se^dliniEr l.iltic I'rrs. I^incoln. misted l>.v Jolin l>iiitl>;ir, Kni-lii 



