68 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



between amoena and a variety of indica known as Due de 

 Nassau, is a pretty little red-flowered plant of extraordinary 

 floriferousness, which is now raised by the Belgian nursery- 

 men in hundreds of thousands by means of cuttings, and 

 sold when quite small for decorative purposes. It is also 

 largely used, both in Belgium and Germany, as a stock on 

 which some of the larger-flowered Indian Azaleas are grafted. 

 The several varieties of amcena which are largely grown as 

 pot plants, and in the warmer parts of the British Islands 

 are increasing in favour as hardy shrubs, are all propagated 

 from cuttings put in in February or March under bell glasses 

 or frames. No doubt such species as R. intricatum, which 

 is more or less of the amoena type, may be multiplied 

 from cuttings. At any rate, it would be a mistake not to 

 try this method for them before resorting to grafting. 



GRAFTING 



The advantages of grafting are in many cases beyond 

 question. It is unnecessary here to discuss the arguments 

 for and against its adoption for the welfare of many garden 

 plants. The cultivation of Rhododendron indicum is not only 

 rendered easy by its means, but it has also made the plant 

 important commercially, because the grafted plants are 

 cheap, free flowering, and sturdy. Its beneficial influence 

 in this case is due to the fact that the only difference 

 between stock and scion is a very slight one, for both are 

 of the same species. 



With regard to the evergreen Rhododendrons, for which 

 grafting has become an almost universal method of pro- 

 pagation, the number of plants raised from layers being 

 comparatively small, there is a much greater difference in 

 constitutional vigour and hardiness between R. ponticum, 



