CHAPTER VII 

 GHENT AND MOLLIS AZALEAS 



THE race of hardy Rhododendrons popularly known as 

 Ghent Azaleas is cultivated in Belgium, Holland, Ger- 

 many, and in several nurseries in England, particularly 

 Mr. Waterer's, Knap Hill, Surrey, and Messrs. R. & G. 

 Cuthbert's, Southgate, Middlesex. At Knap Hill there are 

 numerous very large bushes of the species, and of course 

 there is the fine collection in the Arboretum at Kew. In 

 the garden they are most effective when planted in masses, 

 their flowers in June being lovely in their varied colours, 

 and they are delightfully fragrant. They resemble other 

 sections of the genus in their objection to lime and in their 

 love of moisture. They are all deciduous, but before the 

 leaves fall they change to rich brown and crimson colours, 

 and they will live and thrive for many years where the 

 conditions are to their liking. 



Hundreds of thousands of these Azaleas are forced into 

 flower in early spring, many of them being used for room 

 decoration, a purpose for which they are well adapted if 

 the flowers are first gummed so that they cannot be shaken 

 off. They force quickly into flower, the plants being placed 

 close together in a hot, moist house, and heavily shaded 

 until the flowers expand, when they are exposed to full 

 light to develop the colours. That Ghent Azaleas have 

 been popular in English gardens for many years is evident 



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