CHAPTER XVI 



SHRUBS 

 THE AZALEA 



Azaleas are without exception the most showy of flower- 

 ing shrubs. They are dwarf in habit and may be planted 

 with other shrubs or grouped in masses. Plant them 

 in the spring in deep leaf mold and keep them moist 

 during the summer. They are hardy, but it is best to 

 place a covering of leaves around the plants in autumn. 

 Azalea nudi flora has sweet-scented and very showy 

 light-pink flowers ; it grows from six to eight feet high 

 and blooms in May. Azalea viscosa (white swamp honey- 

 suckle) blooms in June. On account of the intense fra- 

 grance of its white flowers it is valuable as a border plant 

 among other shrubbery. Azalea arbor escens (smooth 

 azalea) is very fragrant and showy, with handsome 

 dark-green foliage, producing white and rose-tinted 

 blossoms late in the summer. It is suitable for planting 

 in borders with other shrubs, and it can be easily grown 

 in any ordinary soil. Azalea -mollis has a dwarf habit 

 and bears large flowers in all shades of red, white, yel- 

 low, and orange. It thrives in sunny situations, and it 

 may also be grown under partial shade. The blossoms 

 come before the leaves and literally fill the plant with 

 a mass of beautiful colors. 



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