The Azalea and its Varieties. 451 



Art. IV. The Hardy Azalea^ its Varieties and Cultivation. 

 From the London Horticultural Magazine. 



The hardy azalea and its varieties are among the most 

 splendid shrubs which enrich and beautify our gardens. 

 Perfectly hardy, of ready growth, flowering profusely at a 

 period of the year when there is a scanty display of flowers, 

 and combining all the varied tints of pink, rose, salmon, 

 orange, buff" and yellow, they are eminently deserving of the 

 first choice of every amateur. 



In our collection we have upwards of sixty kinds, some of 

 them blooming early, others later, and others later still, cov- 

 ering a period of six weeks, and of all the tints we have 

 enumerated. Still newer and more magnificent seedlings 

 have been recently produced, embracing more novel colors, 

 and greater variety ; but even the oldest kinds are sufficiently 

 beautiful to be placed in the front rank of ornamental shrubs. 



To bring this class of shrubs into more immediate notice 

 has been our object for a long time, and Ave have often 

 endeavored to impress upon every admirer of elegant plants 

 the high claims of the hardy azalea. A collection has to be 

 seen but once to enchant every beholder; yet, as there are 

 but few opportunities to do this, owing to the neglect of our 

 amateurs as well as nurserymen to add them to their collec- 

 tions, we can only urge upon all who never have had the 

 gratification of seeing the finer sorts in bloom, their superior 

 charms. 



We have a descriptive list of upwards of fifty varieties, 

 which we shall publish in our next volume, with some fur- 

 ther remarks on their growth. In the mean time, we would 

 call the attention of all who are desirous of adding them to 

 their collection to the following excellent article, detailing 

 the entire routine of treatment. Ed. : — 



It is a curious fact, that in ground which suits this hardy 

 American plant, the seedlings may be seen coming up from 

 the seeds scattered by the plants in such quantities as to be 



