48 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 
the bed and connect them with the nearest outlet for 
water, or take out the soil toa depth of one foot, and 
obtain the requisite depth of peat by raising the surface 
twelve inches above the level. 
As there are comparatively few gardens where peat 
can be obtained except at considerable expense it is 
satisfactory to know that azaleas and rhododendrons 
which are by far the most important of the American 
plants can be successfully grown without its aid. They 
will thrive in any friable garden soil to which a liberal 
addition of leaf soil and partly decayed leaves has been 
made; if a moderate quantity of turfy loam is used with 
the decayed leaves it will be a material advantage. In 
the case of the choice varieties fibrous loam should be 
used instead of the ordinary soil or with it, the propor- 
tions in the latter case to be equal. American plants 
have a strong objection to lime and therefore where the 
soil is impregnated with calcareous matter of any descrip- 
tion it is useless to attempt their culture without provid- 
ing wholly new material for them to root in. 
ANDROMEDA.—These are neat growing evergreens, 
bearing spikes of small bell-shaped flowers useful for 
planting on the margin of beds of azaleas, kalmias and 
trhododendrons. Andromeda floribunda is dwarf and 
dense in growth and blooms early, the small white 
flowers being freely produced above the foliage. 4. 
japonica, A. polifolia major and A. speciosa cassinefolia are 
rather stronger in growth and more elegant in aspect 
and produce campanulate white flowers half an inch or 
so in diameter. 
AzaLeas.—The hardy azaleas are free in blooming 
and the rich shades of buff, coppery yellow, orange, 
salmon-scarlet and yellow produce a brilliant effect 
during the latter part of the spring season when rich 
colour is appreciated. The leaves take on a rich colour 
in the autumn and their bright tints are hardly less 
