FAVOURITE GREENHOUSE PLANTS 433 



plants in early spring. The most popular varieties are the 

 Indian (Azalea Indica), specimens of which can be purchased very 

 cheaply in January and February. If unpotted roots are secured 

 they should be potted immediately in soil with which a good 

 proportion of peat has been incorporated. As soon as growth 

 restarts abundance of water must be supplied, and at intervals 

 applications of liquid manure will be found beneficial. 



The after-treatment of azaleas, when flowering is over, requires 

 careful attention if satisfactory heads of bloom are to be secured 

 in subsequent years. It is the habit of the azalea to shed its 

 blossoms on attaining maturity, thus leaving the seed-pod exposed. 

 With the object of promoting a sturdy leaf growth, it is a good plan 

 to cut the seed-pod away neatly with a pair of scissors. This 

 done, the new growths will speedily make their appearance, and 

 will play an important part in building up the strength of the 

 plant for another season of bloom. 



Where the roots have become potbound, repotting will be 

 found to be necessary. What the professional gardener calls 

 " overpotting " must, however, be guarded against. This is the 

 placing of the plant in a pot several sizes too large for it. All 

 that is necessary in the case of a healthy azalea is that it shall be 

 replanted in a pot not more than one inch in diameter larger than 

 the one from which it has been removed. 



The soil should be composed of two parts of peat chopped 

 rather fine and one part of silver sand. Plenty of drainage must 

 be provided, and, as is the case with all hard-wooded plants, hard 

 potting is necessary that is to say, the soil should be rammed 

 down firmly and evenly. 



A little later in the season about the beginning of June the 

 plants should be plunged in ashes in the open to ripen their growths, 

 If they are again taken under glass in September or October they 

 will produce another splendid display of blossom the following 

 spring. 



Among the best Indian azaleas are Deutsche Perle (double 

 white), Madame Van Houtte (white and carmine), Flaubeau 

 (crimson) and Due de Nassau (rosy purple). 



