CHAPTER XVI. 



AZALEAS FROM SEED.- GENERAL TREATMENT FOR THE SEED- 

 LING PLANTS. 



I have given the different methods for increasing the 

 Azalea by cuttings, grafting, and inarching. I will now 

 give the process of producing the seedlings. 



Most of the new varieties of all plants are produced 

 from seed, but there are many new varieties of the Azalea 

 which have originated from sports (of which I will give an 

 account in the following chapter). 



If you wish to grow from seed, which is easily done, 

 first save the seed from, the best varieties only, and from 

 the flowers that have been fertilized with the pollen of some 

 other good kind. Let the seed be only from good, strong, 

 robust varieties, and those which produce good flowers, that 

 the young progeny may have a good constitution. 



In growing seedlings, every one has some expectation 

 of getting something new and distinct from all others. 



Those plants from which seeds are to be produced should 

 not be syringed after they are in flower, or when fertilized 

 or impregnated with other kinds. 



As soon as the flowers fade, the seed vessel will be 

 formed in the calyx of the dead flower. It will resemble a 

 small pea. Quite a number of seeds will be found in this, 

 although it may be four months, and sometimes longer, 

 before the seeds are ripe and fit to plant. 



Gather when ripe, and sow at once in shallow pans, or 



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