208 GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



as for that purpose they are invaluable, their bright colours 

 rendering them very conspicuous, and their membranous 

 flowers lasting a long time in perfection. The soil best 

 adapted for them is good fibrous peat and leaf mould, with a 

 liberal addition of silver sand, and a few pieces of charcoal 

 mixed through it. 



A. Barnesii. — The very finest light varietj', rather stout 

 in its growth, and not quite so free branching as the others ; 

 produces large bright ro.sy pink flowers on stout flower stalks, 

 about two inches across. 



A. humilis grnndiflora. — An intermediate-growing kind, 

 free-branching habit, flowers rosy purple, produced in great 

 abundance. 



A. macrantha purpurea. — This is also known as A. grandi- 

 Hora and A. spectabilis. A free-growing kind, easily distin- 

 guished from the others by having a more light smooth 

 shining foliage, and a profusion of dark purple flowers. The 

 finest exhibition variety. 



A. macrantha rosea. — A very close, compact, free-branching 

 variety, flower delicate rose. A distinct and desirable kind. 



Azalea. 



This superb genus of highly-ornamental plants is deser- 

 vedly a universal favourite, the varieties being alike useful 

 for the decoration of the dinner-table, the sitting-room, the 

 hall, the greenhouse, or even (in the southern counties of 

 England) the open border. For exhibition purposes they are 

 unequalled ; indeed, at all spring exhibitions of plants they 

 form the leading feature. They are of easy culture, and 

 may be readily forced into bloom by being placed in a warm 

 house ; they may consequently be had for home decoration 

 from Christmas to May, if a tolerable collection of them 



