THE AZALEA AND 



eral thing the plant will not give any flowers 

 during the first year after being potted. It is 

 getting thoroughly established. 



When your plant is making leaves feed it 

 well. Apply some good fertilizer, preferably 

 a liquid. Future usefulness depends on the 

 treatment which the plant receives at each 

 period of growth. It is then that it stores up 

 strength which will probably be expended in 

 the production of flowers at the next growing 

 season. Use the fertilizer as long as the plant 

 continues to make growth. When it ceases to 

 throw up new foliage, gradually cut down on 

 the water-supply, and allow the soil in the pot 

 to become rather dry. Not entirely so, of course, 

 but just moist enough to keep the leaves of the 

 plant from wilting. If the regular supply of 

 water is kept up after the growing-period is 

 over, the plant will be encouraged to keep on 

 growing, or trying to, and the consequence 

 will be a weak and unhealthy plant which can 

 seldom be coaxed into bloom. It will be un- 

 derstood from what I have said that the Ama- 

 ryllis has a growing period and a resting period, 

 and in order to meet the full requirements of 

 the plant each period should be made as com- 

 plete in itself as possible. Help forward 



214, 



