28 



Ornamental Shrubs. 



A. viscosa is another native species, popularly known 

 as the swamp-honeysuckle, or the pinxter, having highly 

 fragrant, white, clammy flowers. It is too familiar 

 to need detailed description, and, though not equal to 

 many of the others, is in itself an interesting shrub. A 

 variety designated as ^. v. nitida has its white flowers 

 tinged with red, and is worthy of cultivation. It is smaller 

 than the type, and, like it, is found mostly in swamps, 

 though thriving in any good garden soil. 



The so-called Ghent azaleas are probably now in more 

 general cultivation than any others. They are hybrids of 



the pontica and indica 

 with A. calendulacea, 

 and perhaps other 

 hardy species, and so 

 combine the beauty of 

 the one type with the 

 strength and vigor of 

 the other. This work 

 of crossing has been car- 

 ried on to such an ex- 

 tent and with such skill 

 that a new class has been 

 established of the most 

 beautiful plants to be found in the gardens of the world. 

 Most of them are perfectly hardy, and are grown in the 

 vicinity of Boston and Chicago, without especial protection 

 from the hot sun in summer or the intense cold of winter. 

 Of course those offered in the market are grafted or 

 budded, and the varieties are so many that it is impracti- 



HYBRID AZALEA. 



