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cultivating the varieties of Azaka In- 

 dica. 



" Many varieties will throw up three 

 r four stems ; the strongest should be 



Soil. — "The soil best adapted for their selected for a leader. When growing, 

 growth is a peaty earth Ibund on com- , they should have plenty of air and light, 

 nions where heath abounds, of a light without being exposed to a cold cur- 

 fibrnus texture, and containing a good ! rent, which is so frequently prejudicial 

 portion of Siind. It should be pared off i to young plants in the spring, when 

 from three inches to fourinchesdeep, the clear sunshine and cold winds prevail, 

 turves should be spread bottom upwards, ; As they will be required to grow as late 



and exposed to the sun during summer, 

 and after having a few showers of rain 

 upon it to restore it to a proper degree 

 of moisture, it may be Ini'! "ii in narrow 

 ridges in the autumn ; ri cm then be 

 taken to the potting-shed as rei|iiired. 

 When used, it should be broken or se- 

 parated with a trowel, and not sifted, 

 rejecting the undecayed surlhce ; and 

 for the strong-growing varieties, to six- 

 eighths of peat and one-eighth loam, 

 and one-eighth silver sand. 



" Sowing. — The Indian Azaleas ripen 

 their seed in February, which should be 

 sown about the beginning of March in 

 pots with ample drainage, and a larger 

 portion of silver sand mixed with the 

 peat. The pot should be filled to within 

 half an inch of the top, and pressed 

 evenly and firmly down with the bottom 

 of another. 



" The seed should then be sown re- 

 gularly over the surface, and after being 

 covered sufficiently deep with peat, 

 again pressed down, so that,aller being 

 watered, the seed may remain buried. 

 The pots should be placed on a shelf in 

 the green-house, and shaded from the 

 direct rays of the sun. 



" It is better that the seeds should ve- 

 getate by the increasing heat of the 

 spring than by artificial means, since 

 they will come up stronger, and are not 

 so liable to damp off. They may be 

 pricked out into other pots as soon as 

 they have made two or three leaves, 

 and as they advance in growth they may 

 be potted into thumbs, or small sixties, 

 in which they may remain in winter, 



in the autumn as t!)e weather will per- 

 mit without applying fire-heat, and as 

 it is not desirable that they should form 

 tlower-buds this season, those wh'ch 

 want pot-room should be again shifted 

 about the latter end of July. Great care 

 should be taken that they are not over- 

 potted, and that they have sufficient 

 drainage; elevating the collar of the 

 stem considerably, by rounding the 

 upper side of the ball, but not so as to 

 injure the tender and delicate fibres. 

 The azalea is liable to canker from the 

 water remaining too long about the col- 

 lar; therefore, in watering, the spout 

 of the pot should never be applied to it, 

 as the cold current of water frequently 

 repeated will check the flow of sap, 

 and ultimately cause death. 



" They should be placed at the back 

 of the green-house during the winter, 

 as near the glass as convenient, to ripen 

 the wood. 



" In the following spring they should 

 be subjected to the same treatment, 

 and again shifted into larger pots. — 

 About the latter end of July they will 

 have the afternoon sun. Free from the 

 drip of trees and protected from high 

 winds, the plants will now be of suffi- 

 cient size to bloom, and in September 

 will have formed their flower-buds. 



" When out of doors they should be 

 occasionally syringed overhead in very 

 dry weather, and the ground around 

 them frequently stirred and watered. 



"About the middle of December, 

 two or three varieties should be put 

 nto a forcing-house, ranging from 50' 



" Culture. — About the beginning of to G.5''; these will begin to bloom about 

 March those which are intended for I the latter end of January, after which 

 specimens should be put into a house they should be removed to the green- 

 at a temperature of from •15'' to 50''\ house or conservatory, to which they 

 where they will soon be excited to \ will give much brilliancy, and in mild 

 grow. If in sixty or forty sized pots, weather impart a mild perfume. About 

 they should be shifted into sizes larger; a week before the first have expand- 

 but it is better to do this when the ed their blossoms, another succession 

 plants are in a growing state. They , should be put in, selecting those which 

 should then be shaded for a few days,! from the enlargement of their buds give 

 and when the flower is shut up in the evidence of their susceptibility of ex- 



afternoon, gently syringed 



, citement ; observing that the more Ta- 



