48 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



the bed and connect them with the nearest outlet for 

 water, or take out the soil to a depth of one foot, and 

 obtain the requisite depth of peat by raising the surface 

 twelve inches above the level. 



As there are comparatively few gardens where peat 

 can be obtained except at considerable expense it is 

 satisfactory to know that azaleas and rhododendrons 

 which are by far the most important of the American 

 plants can be successfully grown without its aid. They 

 will thrive in any friable garden soil to which a liberal 

 addition of leaf soil and partly decayed leaves has been 

 made ; if a moderate quantity of turfy loam is used with 

 the decayed leaves it will be a material advantage. In 

 the case of the choice varieties fibrous loam should be 

 used instead of the ordinary soil or with it, the propor- 

 tions in the latter case to be equal. American plants 

 have a strong objection to lime and therefore where the 

 soil is impregnated with calcareous matter of any descrip- 

 tion it is useless to attempt their culture without provid- 

 ing wholly new material for them to root in. 



ANDROMEDA. These are neat growing evergreens, 

 bearing spikes of small bell-shaped flowers useful for 

 planting on the margin of beds of azaleas, kalmias and 

 rhododendrons. Andromeda florlbunda is dwarf and 

 dense in growth and blooms early, the small white 

 flowers being freely produced above the foliage. A. 

 japonica, A. polifolia major and A. speciosa cassinafolia are 

 rather stronger in growth and more elegant in aspect 

 and produce campanulate white flowers half an inch or 

 so in diameter. 



AZALEAS. The hardy azaleas are free in blooming 

 and the rich shades of buff, coppery yellow, orange, 

 salmon-scarlet and yellow produce a brilliant effect 

 during the latter part of the spring season when rich 

 colour is appreciated. The leaves take on a rich colour 

 in the autumn and their bright tints are hardly less 



