CHAP. Y VILLA GARDENING 171 



corner of a cool greenhouse under a bell-glass in summer, acting 

 under the principle of slow and sure, keeping all about them clean 

 and sweet, and trusting to time to carry out the operation, which 

 it rarely fails to do in a satisfactory manner. The rules laid down 

 for striking hard-wooded plants in a previous chapter will apply 

 also to Azaleas, and need not be repeated here. Also, as re- 

 gards grafting, the treatment there set down is suitable for this 

 class of plants, and I must refer my readers to the chapter on 

 grafting New Holland plants (see Chap. III. p. 162). 



The Ehododendron is simply an enlarged edition of the 

 Azalea, and I am now only referring to the tender Indian kinds, 

 which do not flower ludess protected by a glass roof. They suc- 

 ceed well planted in a bed of loam and peat, or peat alone in a 

 cool house, or they may be grown in pots or tubs ; the latter plan 

 enables us to move them into the open air in summer, which gives 

 scope for rearrangement in the house and benefits the Rhododen- 

 drons at the same time. Rhododendrons are so easily cultivated 

 tliat no more need be said upon that head. Their propagation is 

 chiefly efiected by grafting the choice kinds upon common varieties, 

 which are raised from seeds for the purpose. It is an interesting 

 family for the hybridist to operate upon — sure to yield him some 

 kind of satisfaction. R. aureum splendens, R. ciliatum, R. Edg- 

 worthi, R. Countess of Haddington, R. jasminiflorum, R. Princess 

 Alice, R. Prince of Wales, R. arboreum, R. Veitchianum, R. 

 multiflorum, R. formosum, R. javanicum, R. carneum, R. elegantis- 

 simum, and many others which I might have named, are beautiful 

 hybrid forms ; but where space under glass is limited it will be 

 better for forcing to depend upon plants in pots, and to introduce 

 a sprinkling of the hardy hybrids which can be lifted from the 

 open ground and potted in autumn with buds, and after flowering 

 hardened oft' and planted out again. Rhododendrons are good 

 l^lants for the town greenhouse ; the leaves, being smooth and 

 glossy, are easily freed from dust and blacks with the syringe or 

 the sponge. 



The Greenhouse — Soft-Wooded Plants. — ^To the culti- 

 vator of limited experience this class of plants presents fewer 

 difficulties tlian hard -wooded plants do ; not that no skill is 

 required to bring out all their strong points, but a mistake is 

 less likely to be fatal, and a certain amount of success is pretty 

 sure to reward the eff"orts of all who possess the necessary perse- 

 verance. Order and method are always valuable qualities, and 

 cleanliness should be insisted on in the management of plant- 

 houses, as clean pots and stages, and freedom from dead leaves 

 and flowers, are essential to health. The soil in the pots should 



