68 PLANT CULTURE 



plants and flower profusely. When there is a plentiful supply of 

 their gorgeously colored fruit the plants present a splendid ap- 

 pearance. If we would have the maximum number of berries it is 

 the usual practice to hand pollinate the seed bearing flowers. 



Culture. They grow in cool houses, under conditions suitable 

 for Azaleas. They must be hand fertilized in order to fruit. Pot in 

 a sandy loam with good drainage and give plenty of water during 

 growing period. 



Propagation. The Aucuba and its varieties are among the 

 easiest things to propagate from cuttings; goodly-sized pieces even 

 6 inches in length may be rooted in Autumn in a cool propagating 

 house; the new roots are very large, therefore they should be put 

 in at least 4-inch pots before they get too lengthy. 



AZALEA, Forcing. Azalea indica is a, native of parts of China, 

 and is the most commonly used by the retail florists and for green- 

 house decoration. Thousands of plants were imported from Belgium 

 and Holland annually before the Federal quarantine, coming to this 

 country well packed in crates in the Fall of the year. The varieties 

 noted for their earliness, among which are \'ervaeneana, Simon 

 Mardner, Madame Petrick, Marie Antoinette and Deutsche Perle, 

 can be brought into flower for Christmas. 



Culture. After they are unpacked from the cases in which 

 they were shipped they may be potted up at once and be placed in 

 a frame or greenhouse in a temperature of 5° degrees, and syringed 

 with cool water once or twice a day according to the weather. If 

 the weather is clear and sunny, and not cold, several times each 

 day will not hurt them, but if, on the other hand, it is dull and moist, 

 once or twice a day would be quite sufficient. To hasten their de- 

 velopment a warm temperature can afterward be given. It takes 

 from six to eight weeks as a rule, at a temperature of 60 degrees, to 

 bring Azaleas into flower. Azalea indica is obtainable as a decora- 

 tive plant from Christmas until after Easter, a period of from 14 to 

 16 weeks, and those plants not required for Christmas or New 

 Year can be grown on under cool treatment (50 degrees) and be 

 allowed to flower naturally. 



Speeding up Temperature. Of course, if at any time growth 

 •has to be hastened, the plants can be transferred to a warm house; 

 they will bear quite a warm temperature. If forcing must be re- 

 sorted to, it should be remembered that such plants do not make 

 the best subjects for dwelling rooms, as they are less resistive of 

 the conditions there. 



