A PHE LEXIS — A ZALEA. 



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original species has pink flowers. A. h. grandiflora has rosy purple flowers ; A. h. pur- 

 purea, also known as A. macrantha purpurea, dark purple flowers ; and A. h. rosea — 

 synonym A. macrantha rosea — rose-coloured flowers, all expanding in April. Short 

 half- ripened shoots, inserted in well-drained pots firmly filled with sandy peat, covered 

 with a hell glass, set on stage in cool greenhouse and properly looked after, will emit 

 roots during the summer. Pot singly and very carefully in thumb pots, and grow the 

 plants on a greenhouse shelf during the winter. If they fail to branch naturally, top 

 them, treating larger plants the same if necessary. February is the month during which 

 the re-potting of small or large plants should be done, and only a small shift ought to 

 be given in any case. Suitable soil consists of good brown fibrous peat two parts, leaf 

 soil one part, with silver sand and small nodules of charcoal freely added. Use clean, 

 carefully-drained pots, and pack the soil firmly. It is of importance that the old ball of 

 soil, crowded with fibrous roots, be in a moist state when the shift is given, also that 

 the depth of the rim of the pot be allowed for watering purposes. These fibrous-rooted, 

 peat-loving plants ought never to become really dry at the roots, and when water is 

 given there should be enough to well moisten every particle of soil. These plants 

 must be grown in the full sunshine, and never arranged where worms can have 

 access to the pots. Little or no pruning is needed, but the plants should be 

 trained in semi-globular form, distributing the young flowering growths evenly. Cool 

 greenhouse treatment suits the aphelexis and its near ally, Phtenocoma prolifera 

 Barnesi. 



AZALEA. 



Of the many hard-wooded plants in general cultivation few are more popular 

 than the gorgeous Indian Azalea (A. indica). The original species was introduced from 

 China in 1808, and described as scarlet in colour, but this has been superseded by a 

 remarkable array of varieties, both single and double flowering, mostly raised by 

 Continental florists. During the dullest months in the year our greenhouses and conser- 

 vatories may be kept gay with azaleas. A moderate amount of forcing brings some of 

 them into flower in November, while during the spring months they will flower freely 

 in an ordinary greenhouse, the display lasting into June by means of retarded plants. 

 These azaleas may easily be kept in compact bush form by pruning and training, and 

 may be either globular or pyramidal in shape, to suit the tastes of their owners. 

 Azaleas are not difficult of cultivation. It is true that thousands are annually lost, and 



