88 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNER. 



teur lady gardeners frequently overrule their better 

 judgment. 



Pure peat or decomposed leaf-mould, sand, and fine 

 maiden loam of a sandy nature are absolutely necessary 

 for growing tbe Rhododendron successfully. Pure 

 peat is a natural compound of the three above-named 

 materials, in which alone the Rhododendron, Azalea, 

 Kalmia, Heath, &c, will grow well, and when they are 

 planted in this natural compound they flourish differ- 

 ently from what they would in a soil less favourable ; and 

 in such soils more luxuriance of the species is the con- 

 sequence. When this is the case pruning may be carried 

 out with more confidence, because there will be no doubt 

 about the plant benefiting by it ; severe pruning even 

 of old plants may be effected. 



If Rhododendrons cannot be induced to grow freely, 

 the flowering will not be so good, while, on the contrary, 

 if they do grow freely, pruning may be resorted to, to 

 form dwarf bushy plants, and to maintain an abundance 

 of foliage near to the ground, which adds much to the 

 real beauty of the species. 



The Azalea. 



There are two classes of the Azalea, one hardy and 

 deciduous, the other less vigorous and evergreen. The 

 hardy varieties generally come from America, and the 

 greenhouse species from India, China, &c. In addition 

 to the many varieties originally forming these classes, 

 there are numerous garden hybrids which totally eclipse 

 the originals in regard to colour and in the size of the 

 flower, as well as in quality, many now being equal to 

 some of the old semi-double Camellias, and as good, or 

 even better, than some of the old Roses, to which some 

 might be fairly compared. They are easy to grow, and 

 no one possessing a greenhouse, or a space large enough 

 to form a bed on the open lawn, where half-a-dozen or 

 twelve plants can be planted, should be without them. 



They require the same soil as the Rhododendron. 

 All will bear the knife well, and a plant may be made 



