The Azalea and its Varieties. 461 



inable to select a few handsomly-formed plants, well set for 

 bloom, out of hundreds, and we may say thousands. We 

 cannot too strongly urge upon the growers of this family to 

 be liberal with water while the plants are making their 

 growth, for unless this goes on Mnthout check, they do not 

 perfect their growth, and, consequently, do not set for bloom. 



FORMING STANDARD TREES, 



In going over a piece of azaleas, mark those which have 

 been sending forth long vigorous branches, whether upright 

 or sideways ; they will always be found straight, and gen- 

 erally long. Cut away every bit of the plant but this strong 

 branch ; dig up the root, and in replacing it there or else- 

 where, set the roots so as to bring this long shoot exactly 

 upright. Here you have a standard azalea at once ; but as 

 the branch will retain all its vigorous character, and be even 

 strengthened by the removal of all the rest of the plant, it 

 may be stopped at the height it already is, by taking off the 

 top of the leader ; or it may be encouraged to grow taller by 

 keeping on the leader, and when it commences its growth, 

 cutting off all other branches. Whenever the leader is stopped, 

 the lateral shoots are encouraged ; and you must promote 

 growth where you want it, and stop it where you wish to 

 get rid of it, until you have got the general form of the head 

 to what you please ; when, like any other subject that is all 

 you want, it may be moved to its final destination. Here it 

 may require a little watchfulness, because all growth below 

 the head must be checked at once ; every bud that appears 

 must be rubbed off before it can rob the head of its proper 

 nourishment. No branches should be permitted to spring up 

 from the ground like suckers ; in short, as the great feature 

 of these subjects is the head, nothing must be allowed that 

 will detract from its growth, or intefere with its beauty. In 

 plantations of old azaleas which have been crowded, it is 

 very easy to find many that will cut up to standards of first- 

 rate form ; and this is especially worth the notice of those 

 who take to old gardens which they wish to modernize. 

 Many plants, of various descriptions, neglected and grown 



