GHENT AZALEAS 77 



from the large number of named varieties that were listed 

 by nurserymen seventy-five years ago. 



Their history dates back to 1738, when Peter Collinson, 

 the friend of Linnaeus, introduced R. nudiflorum, R. viscosum, 

 and R. calendulaceum from North America. The yellow 

 R. flavum (Azalea pontica) was not introduced until 1793. 

 According to Loudon, Messrs. Lee and Kennedy were the 

 first to raise hybrids from them in this country. Then 

 followed Osborne, of Fulham, and the Waterers. Loddiges 

 enumerated 107 varieties in his catalogue nearly seventy years 

 ago. Their hybrids were chiefly the result of crossing the 

 American species with R. flavum. A baker in Ghent named 

 Mortier also raised many hybrids and seedlings from them. 

 His work was taken up by the Ghent nurserymen, including 

 van Cassel and Verschaffelt, and their plants soon became 

 prime favourites in England, where they were known as 

 Ghent Azaleas. Van Houtte was the first to raise double- 

 flowered varieties. 



These Azaleas are now grown in Ghent in enormous 

 quantities for the supply of the English and other markets. 

 One-year-old seedlings are used as stocks for the named 

 varieties, which are grafted as Indian Azaleas are. They 

 make saleable plants in about two years. 



R. sinense (Azalea mollis) is also very largely grown in 

 Belgium. Van Houtte raised many seedlings, and did much 

 to improve the substance and colour of its flowers. It is of 

 special value for forcing, besides being a first-rate flowering 

 shrub for the open air. This species has also been used 

 as a breeder by Messrs. Koster, Cuthbert, A. Waterer, and 

 others, who have crossed it with various Ghent Azaleas, the 

 result being that the seedlings have gained richness of 

 colour and substance from the Ghent race ; and size from 



