b CULTURE OF INDIAN AZALEAS. 



Conqueror (Turner). — Salmon-peach, good stout petals and well 

 disposed, true outline ; a noble-looking flower, but the centre very 

 doubtful. 



Favorite (Burgess). — Deep straw colour, with a reddish shade, 

 good petal and outline, somewhat flat in the face ; useful. 



Thames Bank Hero (Robinson). — Dark crimson, medium size, 

 centre well up, compactly arranged, good outline ; useful. 



CULTURE OF INDIAN AZALEAS. 



BY A VERY EXTENSIVE LONDON FLORIST. 



In a recent Number of this Magazine some particulars were inserted 

 on the culture of this beautiful tribe of greenhouse plants. I propa- 

 gate, and send to the London markets, or dispose of on my premises 

 where cultivated, three thousand plants every year. My extensive 

 practice enables me to say something about the method of successful 

 treatment. It is with pleasure I transmit the following particulars for 

 the first Number of a new volume: — 



When the young wood has become about what is termed half ripened, 

 which is tlie case generally in April, May, or June, varying as to the 

 earliness of being brought into bloom, I take off the suitable shoots, 

 and cut each cutting across (having a sharp knife) close under a joint, 

 the cutting being from an inch and a half to two inches long. After 

 dressing off a few of the lower leaves, I insert them in a sandy bog 

 peat, pressing the soil closely round tlie stem of each, and a good 

 watering is then given to settle the soil to the cutting. It is necessary 

 to pay attention, that the bottom of the cutting rests fairly upon the 

 soil. I omitted to state I have two or three inches of drainage — 

 broken pot, turf, sticks, &c. When the excess of wet has subsided, I 

 place a bell-glass over each pot of cuttings, and plunge them in a pit, 

 or liot-bed frame that has a good bottom heat, usually from 65 to 70 

 degrees. Occasionally the glass has to be taken oft' to clean it, and in 

 a month the cuttings root freely. Not more than two in fifty fail. 

 When they are well rooted, which is from the end of June and onwards, 

 I have them potted off singly, into sixty-sized pots. I use half rotten 

 vegetable mould, and boggy peat, witli a good sprinkling of sand, 

 having a liberal drainage. In planting I take care to press the soil 

 tolerably firm down. This being done I place them in a hot-hed frame 

 of gentle heat, shade them from sunshine, and when began to strike 

 into the new soil, I give a little air, increasing it as the growth advances. 

 About the beginning of September the siiading- is dispensed with, and 

 the lights taken off to admit sun and air fully, in order to have the 

 wood well ripened. All the most vigorous-grown plants I pot into 

 large sixties at this time. 



The usual care to preserve from frost on the one hand, and too much 

 damp on the other, is of course given ; this particular routine is so well 

 known that I need not occupy space about ic. At the end of February 

 or early in March, I re-pot again into a size larger ; and when a plant 

 has attained six or eight inches high, I pinch off' the lead to cause it to 

 produce side shoots, and make a bushy plant. I prefer often potting 



