174 TH E PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [Oct'r 



^ When we contrast the difference that exists between the size of the ^ 

 \5leaf of the great palms, perhaps the most striking form of leaf isW 

 ~~j that of the floating Victoria lily — now so well known, with the mi- T 

 nu'e duck weed (Ls/nna) of the marshes ; or the still less developed 

 forms of Dodder (cuscuta), which has no true leaves ; and the Oro- 

 banches or broom rapes, which rise up irom the soil destitute of leafy- 

 beauty — the tooth wort and beech drops, and bird's nest or monotro- 

 pn. so unique in appearance furnished with perfect flowers and seeds, 

 but no true leaves ; we must certainly admit that there is in the 

 products of nature a vast and endless variety of forms curious and 

 interesting to the casual observer if brought in a proper manner be. 

 neath his notice. Peculiar forms are adapted to peculiar localities. 

 Orchids resembling in form, flies and moths, hang to the bark of trees 

 in the tropics. Others similar in the shape of their flowers but dif- 

 ferent in most other points are found growing in the soil in tempe- 

 rate countries, and quite dissimilar vegetable productions indifferent 

 countries serve a similar purpose in the economy of nature. The 

 value of a more extensive acquaintance with the products of the ve- 

 getable kingdom will it is hoped soon be universally acknowledged, 

 and the forms which now are matters of curiosity to many will be- 

 come familiar, at least so much so as description and history can make 

 them to the general reader. The wall? in the country is so much 

 more interesting when the objects are familiar which spring up around 

 the feet, and the satisfaction at the sight of some fine specimen more 

 lasting when its history is known. 



The foregoing remarks are intended to excite a desire to know more 

 of the productions of the vast field which is spread around us. 



Cultivation and Propagation of Green House Azaleas. 



BY F. N., NEW YORK. 



The varieties of Azalea Indica now in cultivation are very numer- 

 ous and many of them strikingly beautiful. I shall not now attempt 

 to enumerate them, but offer a few remarks on their propagation and 

 culture which may prove interesting to the amateur. I have suc- 

 ceeded best in propagating them in July, when their wood is about 

 half ripened. I use cutting pots or pans, filled about half way up 

 with broken potsherds over which a small quantity of rough vegeta- 

 ble soil should be placed, to prevent the fine mould from mixing with 

 the drainage. Fill the pots with a mixture of two thirds peat and 

 one third sand, sifted so as to clear it of all lumps, to within half an 

 inch of the rim. After pressing the soil lightly with a small pot or 

 circular board made for the purpose 5 cover with fine bar sand, and 

 after sprinkling it with a fine rose watering pot, to settle it, insert the 

 cuttings, prepared to a length of about two inches. After the cut- 

 tings are put in, they should be covered with a bell glass to prevent 

 evaporation, and the pot plunged in a bed with a slight bottom heat, 

 and at a temperature of 65 or 70°. In the course of two months 

 they should be rooted, when they will require a little air, which may 

 be given by tilting up the glass on one side, In one or two weeks 

 they may be removed to the greenhouse to remain till the latter end 

 of February or the beginning of March, when they will require re- j 

 potting into two inch pots in a mixture of peat and sand — they may L 

 then be placed in a hot-bed at a temperature of about 60 c for four or A 

 ^five weeks and afterwards removed to the front of a warm house for^j 



&39*> ^Q^M 



