CHAPTER XVII. 



AZALEA SPORTS. WHY THEY SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGED. 



Those who are familiar with growing the Azalea are 

 aware that many of our new and best varieties have not 

 been produced by the ordinary way of procuring them, 

 which is from seed. Many of the new, best, and most 

 distinct kinds have appeared as sports. 



A named or established variety often produces here and 

 there a type on one branch entirely different from tho 

 original flowers, and when this branch is taken from an 

 established kind of Azalea and propagated, it generally 

 holds good. 



This is unlike many sports of plants of a different 

 character. 



By this means many, and I may say most of the new 

 varieties have been produced, instead of from seed, as in 

 the way of producing new varieties of most other plants. 



Amateurs, or those who cultivate this plant for its 

 beauty while in flower, will, T have no doubt, be very much 

 pleased when they find two or three differ; nt kinds of 

 flowers on the same plant, which are entirely distinct from 

 the established kind and the one which they purchased. 

 The majority of the flowers, though, will be the same as the 

 established variety. 



These sports seldom appear on small plants. 



The sporting of Azaleas cause the growers much annoy- 

 ance, and is considered a bad feature in the plant. 



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