AZALEA INDICA. 15 



The seed is gathered in October or November, and kept until 

 January, when it is sown in shallow pans in two-thirds peat and 

 one-third fine sand. When the young plants have attained to the 

 height of two inches, they should be potted off in thumb pots, and 

 placed in a bed of tan or similar substance, where the bottom of 

 the pot will not drj^ suddenly, near the glass in the shady part of a 

 pit or greenhouse. These pots, as well as those afterwards used, 

 should be most thoroughly drained. 



In the treatment of established plants I have drained with pot- 

 sherds, with a covering of cut hay, moss, or spent hops from the 

 brewery, so that the plants might take a full suppl}' of water with- 

 out the earth becoming sodden and sour. The plants should at 

 all times have a regular supply of water, especially when in flower 

 and while making their growth. I have found that it is well to 

 keep them in the greenhouse until the weather becomes warm out- 

 side, so that they may ripen their wood thoroughly. They should 

 then be removed to a cool, shady place, or, if allowed to receive 

 the sun in the middle of the day, they should be plunged in some 

 substance, so as to prevent the roots from becoming injured by 

 the heat of the sun on the pots. Mr.TJunnewell's method is to 

 pile soil around each separate pot, and I have never seen an}* aza- 

 leas in better condition than his. The best season for potting is 

 immediately after the plants have made their growth in the spring, 

 and the best soil is three parts fine old peat and one part fine sand. 

 The azalea ma}^ be forced early, and a succession of flowers may 

 be had from December to May, if kept in a cool house until wanted 

 for forcing. 



One word in regard to the form of plants. There is a natural 

 form, grace, and beauty which Divine Wisdom has given to every 

 species of plants, and our treatment of them should correspond 

 with that rule of beauty which he has given us for our guide. 

 True there are from some cause often naturally ill formed plants, 

 but these are exceptions to the general rule. In a word, I am not 

 in favor of the modern method of training and tying down of the 

 branches, to make exact spherical, conical, or other geometrical 

 forms. Such are not the natural forms, and I think we should 

 follow nature as closely as we can in the training and pruning of 

 the azalea, onlj- early removing such gross or rambling branches 

 as are necessary to keep the plant within proper bounds. This 

 training of azaleas into geometrical or fantastic forms is just as 



