AZALEA INDICA. 17 



though the foliage was not touched. The terminal leaves hold the 

 moisture from the dew around the buds. 



The point we should aim at in raising seedlings is to get a fine 

 variety with good flower, foliage, habit, etc. Many varieties, 

 when in bloom, are so densely covered with flowers that it is of no 

 consequence that they have no foliage. The plants may be frozen 

 without injury, if kept dry, but if wet, the flower buds are done to. 

 The azalea is adapted to ever}' situation, and no lady need fear of 

 failure when growing it in the parlor. 



In answer to an inquiry as to the process of grafting, Mr. Hovey 

 said that he takes off" the end of a shoot, pares off* one side of both 

 scion and stock, and ties on as a side graft. The plant is then 

 laid on its side and covered with a newspaper, or placed in a 

 frame, when, if kept close and warm, they unite and maj' be re- 

 moved in six or eight weeks to the house. 



Mr. Strong called attention to the growth of the two seedling 

 plants exhibited by Mr. Wilder. He thought there was a ten- 

 dency to improvement in the culture of plants generally ; and that 

 these were illustrations. Mr. Hovey's plan of treating seedlings 

 would dwarf the plants, but he believed it was better to keep them 

 in rapid growth, like those exhibited. 



President Parkman remarked that many cultivators of the aza- 

 lea had been perplexed by the behavior of their young seed- 

 lings. 



Mr. Hovey said, in reference to Mr. Strong's remarks, that the 

 plants were not sure to be good varieties, and his object was to 

 grow them in a small space until their character was decided. It 

 would require a large house to grow a large quantity, and so much 

 room could not be afforded. The number of seedlings that must be 

 grown to raise superior A'arieties is very great. Margottin, the 

 great French rose grower, for instance, had five acres of seedling 

 roses, and Mr. Hovey visited an English dahlia raiser who had 

 four acres of seedlings, from which he selected only one single 

 plant in a j-ear that he thought worthy of introduction and a 

 name. 



Grafting can be done at any time, but from the 20th of July to 

 the first of September is best. The seed is remarkably fine, and 

 should be sown in sandy loam or sandy peat, with a little of the 

 same over them. It should be protected with a glass laid over the 

 pan, and watered very cautiously. Worms are apt to trouble the 



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