THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



AZOLLA. 453 



and happily few shrubs flower better in 

 partial shade than Azaleas. They like 

 shelter, even from southerly winds, and 

 peaty soil suits them best, though they 

 grow well in loam. 



The hardy Azaleas, called Ghent 

 Azaleas, have sprung chiefly from the 

 wild kinds of North America A. 

 nudiflora, A. calendulacea, and A. viscosa. 

 These and A. pontica have been so 

 hybridised with the wild Azalea of South 

 Europe that we have a race in which 

 the colours of the various species are 

 blended and diversified in a great variety 

 of tints, and they all intercross so freely 

 that it is difficult to single out a variety 

 identical with any of the wild species. 

 Fifty years ago, Latin names were given 

 to every fine variety, but they could soon 

 be numbered by the hundred from Belgian 

 gardens alone. Now very few sorts are 

 named. Every variation of tint, from the 

 most fiery scarlets to delicate pinks, 

 whites, and dark and pale yellows, is to 

 be had in Ghent Azaleas, a very beautiful 

 one being the pure white Mrs. Anthony 

 Waterer. Of late years there has sprung 

 up a new race with double Hose-in-hose 

 flowers, collectively called the Narcissi- 

 flora group, the chief sorts of which 

 number about a score Graf von Meran, 

 one of the first, being still among the best 

 yellows. A Californian species, named A. 



Flowers ol Azalea inollis. 



accident ali s, is distinct from the deciduous 

 Azaleas, as it flowers after the others are 

 past. It has bunches of fragrant white 

 flowers and broad foliage. A. mollis, a 

 dwarf deciduous shrub from Japan and 

 China, has given rise to a variety of 

 kinds, yellow, salmon-red, and orange- 

 scarlet being the prevailing colours. It is 

 hardy, and being dwarf may be grouped 



as a foreground to a mass of the tall 

 kinds. The Chinese A. amcetta, with 

 small magenta flowers, common enough 

 in greenhouses, is quite hardy in mild 

 localities and rich in bold masses. The 

 Chinese A. indtca, the ordinary Azalea of 

 greenhouses, is hardy in many places 



Azalea nudiflorum. 



especially the white variety, which, even 

 in mid-Sussex, thrives in the open air. The 

 Ledum-leaved Azalea (A. ledifolia) is a 

 hardy evergreen shrub, also from China, 

 with white flowers, large and open, like 

 A. indica. It grows from 5 ft. to 6 ft. 

 high, and Loudon states that in Cornwall, 

 on Sir Charles Lemon's estate at Carclew, 

 it was planted in hedges, which flowered 

 magnificently without the slightest pro- 

 tection. 



AZARA. Distinct andgraceful Chilian 

 shrubs, nearly hardy in favourable soils. 

 On east or west wails they flower freely ; 

 while in the southern counties, at least, 

 they do well in the open. Well-drained 

 loam and the partial shade of taller shrubs 

 suit them. A. Gillesi is probably the most 

 handsome, its toothed leaves resembling 

 in colour and texture those of the Holly, 

 with the branches tinged with red. Both 

 in the open air and under glass it blooms 

 in late autumn and winter, the flowers 

 small, and resembling golden catkins. 

 A. celastrina has rather smaller leaves, 

 and yellow blossoms. A. integrifolia 

 has drooping spikes of fragrant yellow 

 blossoms, which form a dense bush a 

 few feet in height. A. microphylla is 

 a graceful evergreen shrub, with many 

 small flowers, succeeded in autumn by 

 small orange-red berries. The best place 

 for it is a sheltered position, not too low. 

 Among other kinds are A. den fata, a 

 quick grower; and A. serrata, with 

 prettily serrated leaves, and umbels of 

 yellow blossoms. 



AZOLLA. A. Caroliniana is a very 

 small and curious water-plant, which floats 

 on water quite free of soil, the tufts of 

 delicate green leaves like tiny emeralds. 



