78 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
and in filling the space between the ball of soil and the side of 
the pot the soil must be rammed with a thin piece of stick, as firm 
as it can well be made, for if any part of the fresh soil is loose, the 
water will soak away withort moistening the ball, and when this 
becomes dust-dry,-it is very difficult to moisten it without standing 
the pot in a vessel of water. Peat is usually recommended for 
Azaleas; but long experience has proved to me that a mixture 
of equal parts peat and loam is far better than peat alone. The 
loam must be silky in texture and contain a fair proportion of 
fibrous matter, and if this is difficult to obtain, peat only should be 
used. In either case a sixth part of silver-sand must be added to 
the compost. 
Azaleas are fairly hardy in constitution, and they may be main- 
tained in the most excellent condition, with no more fire-heat than 
is requisite for the exclusion of frost from the structure in which 
they are placed. They however make a more vigorous growth 
when removed, after repotting, to a warm pit, where they can be 
kept rather close and be syringed overhead about once a day. The 
temperature of the pit should be about 65°, and if it exceeds that, 
excepting in bright weather, the growth will not be so strong as it 
should be. 
After they have been repotted a fortnight or so, the frame must 
be ventilated rather freely in genial Wes and as the growth 
approaches completion, tilt the lights sufficiently to ensure a free 
circulation of air amongst the plants. If a pit cannot be spared 
for them, they can be placed in the greenhouse and be allowed to 
remain there until the growth is completed. When this stage is 
reached, remove them to a rather shady position out of doors, and in 
September place them in a light, airy position in the greenhouse. 
Careful watering is necessary, especially during the winter season. 
They require rather liberal supplies during the spring and summer, 
and just sufficient in the winter to maintain the soil in a moderately 
moist state. The soil must not at any time be allowed to become 
dust-dry, and if this should happen trom any cause, stand the pots 
in a vessel of water for ten minutes or so, to afford time for the ball 
to become thoroughly moistened again. 
In watering Azaleas, and indeed all classes of plants potted 
wholly or in part in peat, it is of the utmost importance to apply 
sufficient to soak the ball through, as indicated by the water running 
out of the pot at the bottom. Amateurs, in watering plants of this 
class often content themselves with merely filling the space on the 
surface once, and as this is seldom sufficient to moisten the ball 
more than two or three inches below the surface, the plants fre- 
quently perish in consequence. 
A Gigantic Graz Vine.—According to reports from San Francis2o, the largest 
grape vine known in the whole world is growing at Montecito, near South Barbara. 
It is supposed to be little less than 100 years old, and the girth of the stem is 53 feet. 
The foliage covers a surface of 10,000 square feet, an! it is said to have borne the 
fabulous quantity of 6 tons of fruit annually for some years past. 
