The Azalea and its Varieties. 453 



once proved that the cross was complete. Notwithstanding 

 this, there appears hardly one striking similitude in the two 

 plants, except their being of the same class and order. The 

 rhododendron is a perfect evergreen, the azalea is deciduous ; 

 the bloom of the rhododendron comes in a short spike or 

 cone, the azalea presents no such form. However, that it is 

 of the same family cannot be doubted ; for not only do they 

 breed together, but the produce, namely, a yellow rhododen- 

 dron, seeds freely, so that the popular notion of its being a 

 mule, and therefore not yielding seed, is exploded altogether. 

 That they flourish in the same soil and situation is certain ; 

 and that, when once planted and growing, they do well under 

 the same treatment, is equally true : therefore, the same means 

 that will serve to raise the one will do to grow the other. 



The varieties of hardy azalea which are cultivated in gar- 

 dens, have chiefly, though not exclusively, sprung from three 

 species introduced from North America, namely, Azalea 

 pontica, rnidijiora, and viscosa ; the former of which is by 

 some botanists called Rhododendron Jlaviwi, the next R. 

 nudifloriwi, and the latter R. viscosum. Botanically speak- 

 ing, those who place these plants in the genus rhododendron 

 are probably correct, as the differences between the rhodo- 

 dendrons and azaleas are too slight for generic distinction. 



The Azalea pontica (R. jlaviim) is a large yellow-flowered 

 kind, blooming in May and June ; it has given rise to a nu- 

 merous progeny of varieties, of almost all shades of coloring, 

 from yellow to orange, and white, and striped. 



The Azalea 7iudiJiora (R. niidijiorum) is smaller than the 

 last, and much more various in its sportive qualities ; the 

 varieties which flower from April to June include scarlet, 

 pink, red, purple, white, striped, and various combinations of 

 these and the intermediate tints. 



The Azalea viscosa (R. viscosum) is a later kind, flow- 

 ering in the latter end of June and in July ; the blossoms are 

 strongly fragrant, and clammy. This, too, has given rise to 

 numerous varieties, of various colors. 



Besides the varieties which have naturally sprung from 

 these species, very many others, some of very distinct char- 



