gree>;house flowekixg plants. 29 



"threading" the intermediate shoots to keep them into their 

 position. The attractive silvery appearance of their stems 

 and leaves, and the bright rosy-purple of their beautiful 

 "everlasting" flowers, make the Aphelexis always very inte- 

 resting objects. 



AZALEA. 



AVith the exception, perhaps, of the Erica, there is no tribe 

 of greenhouse flowering plants so useful as the Azalea to the 

 exhibitor. The numerous first-class varieties of A. indica 

 which are now in cultivation give the exhibitor a wide choice 

 in selecting the best for his purpose. In flower they make 

 a brilliant and highly attractive display, and are a prominent 

 feature of flower-shows in spring and early summer. A cool 

 greenhouse is their best winter quarters ; and when they are 

 wanted for early spring shows, they must be introduced to 

 heat in due time to get them into flower. They bear mild 

 forcing remarkably well, and from six to eight weeks, accord - 

 ing to the variety, is generally sufiicient to get them into full 

 bloom. A temperature of 55° at night, rising 5° to 10° in 

 the daytime, is better than harder forcing. Keep plenty of 

 moisture in the atmosphere, and shade from bright sunshine. 

 When the flowers begin to expand, reduce both heat and 

 moisture, and gradually harden them off, so as to enable them 

 to stand exposure at the exhibition. They should be re-potted 

 when needful soon after flowering ; using fibry peat, and a 

 little turfy loam and leaf-mould, with a good sprinkling of 

 silver sand and charcoal nodules. Place them in a moist 

 atmosphere, with a heat of 60° to 65° at night, and shade 

 from sunshine till they have made their growth and set their 

 buds, when they should be gradually hardened off, and may 

 be set out of doors in autumn to thoroughly ripen ; moving 

 them into winter quarters before there is any danger of frost. 



BOKONIA. 



The Boronias are a useful and elegant genus of greenhouse 

 plants, and form handsome specimens when properly treated. 



