Azalea 



Azalea 



referred to the genus Rhododendron by some 

 authorities, but generally kept distinct for garden 

 purposes. The so-called Indian Azaleas, mostly 

 varieties of the species inrlica, are exceedingly 

 beautiful greenhouse plants, and are imported 

 largely from Belgium. Amongst hardy Azaleas 

 there are the Ghent or American, pontica (note 

 that this is not Rhododendron ponticum), and other 

 varieties. Notes on culture and selections of 

 varieties are given in the case of the principal 

 sections. There are many species of Azaleas, but 

 they are in the main of little horticultural value 

 as compared with the varieties, and therefore only 

 a summary of them is given. 



Description of the Indian Azaleas. All the green- 

 house Azaleas are evergreen, and their culture is 

 chiefly confined to varieties of garden origin. At 

 the time when, trained specimen plants were much 

 in vogue Azaleas were largely grown for this 

 purpose, trained in pyramid and other shapes. 

 For the decoration of conservatories, and for pro- 

 viding cut flowers, Azaleas are extremely useful. 

 A cool greenhouse temperature suits them, and 

 they may be grown in a cold frame or outdoors 

 during the summer. 



Propagation. By seeds, cuttings, and grafting. 

 Seeds should be sown in a gentle heat in February, 

 in shallow pans. When the seedlings have made 

 a few leaves, prick them off in other pans filled 

 with sandy peat. The following spring they may 

 be transferred to small pots. To propagate from 

 cuttings, select young, half-ripened shoots from 

 plants that .have flowered. Slip them off with a 

 heel, trim the base, and insert half a dozen in a 

 (>" pot three parts filled with sandy peat, with a 

 layer of silver sand on the surface. Cover the 

 receptacle with a bell-glass, stand it in a tempera- 

 ture of from 60 to 65",' and' shade from hot sun- 

 shine. When the cuttings are rooted, transfer 

 them to small pots, using, fine peat .and sand. 

 Keep them in a warm temperature till roots are 

 in action; when they may be removed to the green- 

 house. Pinch out the points to cause side shoots 

 to break, and pot on as required. Grafting is an 

 excellent means of propagation. The early spring 

 is the most suitable time, and indica alba and 

 pontica are good stocks. The scions should be 

 about If" long, and be sidegrai'ted on to the 

 stocks, and fastened with worsted. Until scion 

 and stock are united the grafted "plants should 

 be grown in a warm propagating frame. . 



Soil. Three parts of fibrous peat, one part of 

 loam, and one-fourth part of .silver sand. 



Other Cultural Points. The best time for re- 

 potting established plants is directly .the flowers 

 have faded. Prior to the operation pick off all 

 the seed pods. The balls, when turned out of the 

 pots, resemble a mass of fibrous roots. In the case 

 of growing specimens, provide pots one or two 

 sizes larger. Full-grown plants may be replaced 

 in the same size pots. To reduce the balls take 

 a sharp knife and pare them round sufficiently to 

 afford room for the new compost. Drain the pots 

 carefully, and press the soil evenly and firmly 

 round with a blunt stick, leaving only a slight 

 covering of the new material over the old ball. 

 Leave sufficient room in the pots for holding water, 

 as plants are liable to die after potting through 

 the old ball getting dry in the centre. Shade for 

 a few weeks after potting, and syringe frequently. 

 A warm greenhouse temperature suits Azaleas 

 after flowering. Syringe daily while new growtli 



is being completed. Harden the growth by 

 exposure to sunshine. About the middle of 

 June the plants may be placed in a cold pit or 

 stood outdoors, preferably in a western aspect. 

 Stand the pots on a layer of coal ashes, or plunge 

 them in Cocoanut fibre refuse. At all times Azaleas 

 must be carefully watered, endeavouring to keep 

 the soil in an even .state of moisture. If the com- 

 post becomes sour through over-watering and bad 

 drainage, the results are often fatal, and drought 

 at the roots is equally injurious. If a plant gets 

 very dry, the best way to ensure a thorough soak- 

 ing is to sink the pot for twenty minutes in a pail 

 of water. Towards the end of September the 

 plants should be removed to a light, airy green- 

 house for the winter. Azaleas are very useful for 

 providing cut flowers, and free-growing varieties 

 may be cut without injuring the plant. 



AN AZALEA GROWN MY AN AMATKI it. 



A Selection of Varieties. There are many 

 varieties in cultivation, including single, semi- 

 double, and double forms, and varying widely in 

 size of flower, and colour. The following is a 

 good selection : 



SINGLES. 



Apollo, wh., striped car. 

 Baroiiue de Vnere, wh., 



crim. 



Charmer, amaranth. 

 Comtesse tie Beaufort, 



ro., blotched crim. 

 Fielder's White, wh. 

 Madame Jean Nuytens 



Verschaffelt, wh., spot- 

 ted y el. 

 Mdlle. Leonie Van Houtte, 



wh., flaked ro., large. 

 Mrs. Turner, pk., edged 



wh. 

 Heine des Flours, salmon, 



edged wh. 

 Sigisnmud Backer, ro., 



edged wh. 

 Stella, or. sc., fine. 

 Theodoras, fiery red. 



DOUBLES. 



Alice, deep ro., blotched. 

 Bernard Andre, vio. pur. 

 Deutsche Perle, wh., 



early. 

 Empress of India, salmon, 



wh. 

 Grand Duches.se deBadeu, 



rosy sc., semi-double. 

 Louise Margpttin, wh. 



striped, Sami-double. 

 Madame Van der Cruys- 



sen, ro., dark spots, 



semi-double. 



Phu'bus, ro., semi-double. 

 I'lvsidrnt ( (swald (!< Krr- 



chove, sahnoupk., fine. 

 Reiiie du Portugal, wh. 

 Souvenirde Prince Albert, 



rosy peach, wh. mar- 

 pa', 

 verviuiienna, salmon, 



\vh. margin, rliiu. 



