353 



AZALEA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



viscosa. These and A. ponlica have 

 been so hybridised with the wild 

 Azalea of S. Europe that we have a 

 race in which the colours of the various 

 species are blended and diversified in 

 a great variety of tints, and they all 

 intercross so freely that it is difficult 



Flowers of Azalea awllis. 



to single out a variety identical with 

 any of the wild species. Fifty years 

 ago, Latin names were given to every 

 fine variety, but they could soon be 

 numbered by the hundred from Belgian 

 gardens alone. Now very few soits are 

 named. Every variation of tint, from 

 the most fiery scarlets to delicate pinks, 

 whites, and dark and pale yellows, is 

 to be had in Ghent Azaleas, a very 

 beautiful one being the pure white 

 Mrs Anthony Waterer. Of late years 

 there has sprung up a new race with 

 double Hose-in-hose flowers, collec- 

 tively called the Narcissi-flora group, 

 the chief sorts of which number about 

 a score Graf von Meran, one of 

 the first, being still among the best 

 yellows. A Calif ornian species, named 

 A. occidentalis , is distinct from the 

 deciduous Azaleas, as it flowers after 

 the others are past. It has bunches 

 of fragrant white flowers and broad 

 foliage. A. mollis, a dwarf deciduous 

 shrub from Japan and China, has given 

 rise to a variety of kinds, yellow, 

 salmon-red, and orange-scarlet being 

 the prevailing colours. It is hardy, 

 and being dwarf may be grouped as a 

 foreground to a mass of the tall kinds. 

 The Chinese A. amcena, with small 

 magenta flowers, common enough in 

 greenhouses, is quite hardy in mild 

 localities and rich in bold masses. The 

 Chinese 4; indica, the ordinary Azalea 



of greenhouses, is hardy in many places, 

 especially the white variety, which, 

 even in mid-Sussex, thrives in the open 

 air. The Ledum-leaved Azalea (A. 

 ledifolia] is a hardy evergreen shrub, 

 also from China, with white flowers, 

 large and, open, like A. indica. It 

 grows from 5 to 6 feet high, and 

 London states that in Cornwall, on 

 Sir Charles Lemon's estate at Carclew, 

 it was planted in hedges, which flowered 

 magnificently without the slightest 

 protection. Though Azaleas are now 

 in botanical books made synonymous 

 with Rhododendrons, I have preferred 

 to deal with them separately here. 



AZARA. Distinct and graceful 

 Chilian shrubs, or low trees, nearly 

 hardy in many parts. On east or 

 west walls they flower freely ; while 

 in the southern counties, at least, they 

 do well in the open. Well-drained 

 loam and the partial shade of taller 

 shrubs suit them. A. Gillesi is prob- 

 ably the most handsome, its toothed 

 leaves resembling in colour and texture 

 those of the Holly, with the branches 

 tinged with red. Both in the open air 

 and under glass it blooms in late 

 autumn and winter, the flowers small, 

 and resembling golden catkins. A. 

 celastrina has rather smaller leaves, 

 and yellow blossoms. A. integrifolia 

 has drooping spikes of fragrant yellow 

 blossoms, which form a dense bush a 

 few feet in height. A. microphylla is 

 a graceful evergreen shrub, with many 

 small flowers, succeeded in autumn by 

 small orange-red berries. Even quite 

 near London it makes a good hedge, 

 and its elegant sprays of glossy leaves 

 are valuable for cutting in winter. 

 Among other kinds are A. dentata, a 

 quick grower ; and A . serrata, with 

 prettily serrated leaves, and umbels of 

 yellow blossoms. 



AZOLLA. A . Caroliniana is a very 

 small and curious water-plant, which 

 floats on water quite free of soil, the 

 tufts of delicate green leaves like tiny 

 emeralds. During summer it will 

 grow out of doors, and then becomes 

 bronzed, and perhaps it is prettier 

 when light green, as it is in the green- 

 houses or window. Syn. A. rubra. 

 A. pinnata is a distinct species. 



BABIANA (Baboon-root]. Charming 

 bulbs of the Iris order, from S. Africa, 

 allied to Sparaxis and Tritonia, but 

 having broader foliage, often hairy 

 and plaited ; they grow from 6 to 12 

 inches high, with spikes of sometimes 

 sweetly-scented brilliant flowers rang- 



