CHAPTER XVIII. 



AZALEAS FOR THE AMATEURS OR THOSE WHO HAVE A SMALL 

 COLLECTION. TREATMENT FOB THE SAME. 



There are few plants grown that are more worthy of a 

 place in the amateur's collection than the Azalea, for orna- 

 menting and beautifying the greenhouse. Its brilliancy of 

 color and markings, with many delicate shades of flowers, 

 and also blooming, as it does with ordinary treatment, from 

 December to June, renders it a universal favorite. 



There are but few hard- wooded plants which the amateur 

 can grow and bloom with as much satisfaction as the 

 Azalea. 



They are capable of enduring a high and intense heat 

 without injury, if they are syringed twice a day, or this 

 plant can be grown in a house where the thermometer does 

 not fall below forty. In this temperature they can be made 

 to bloom abundantly. 



Do not crowd the plants. 



Give plenty of light and air on all sides. 



Those which are grown with a variety of plants, and at 

 a high temperature, will need their foliage dampened often. 

 They will bloom during January and February. 



Those which have been kept cool will bloom during 

 March and April. Manage the plants so as to have a suc- 

 cession of flowers from November until May. (See previous 

 chapters for fuller directions.) 



Look over the stock when through flowering, re-pot all 



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