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AZALEA. 



HARD-WOODED PLANTS FOR THE GREENHOUSE. 



THIS section of indoor flowers comprises many kinds, all more or less difficult to 

 grow, and for this reason their cultivation is in a measure one of the fashions 

 of a past age. Twenty or more years ago Heath, Epacris, Tretratheca, Pimelia, 

 Phcenocoma, Hovea, Correa, Aphelexis, and tilings of similar nature were grown 

 largely for the exhibition, to show as large specimens, marvellous productions, it must 

 be confessed, of cultural skill, though not always handsome owing to their rigid form. 

 Azaleas, Boronias, Heaths, especially the beautiful Erica hyemalis, Grevilleas, and 

 Chorozemas are still grown in gardens of any pretensions, and the more important families 

 are referred to in the alphabetical list. Hard-wooded plants are natives chiefly of Australia 

 and South Africa, and although not distinguished for the brilliant colouring of the flowers, 

 the majority are very free and prettily tinted, whilst a few, Boronia heterophylla as an 

 example, are sufficiently attractive to grow largely for decorations. 



Aphelexis. — A group of hard-wooded pi mis, usually 

 considered more lor the exhibition than the greenhouse, 

 and seldom grown at the present day. A. macrantha 

 purpurea is as handsome as any. Follow the general rules 

 laid down for the culture of hard-wooded things in general, 

 using the best peat and sharp silver sand for soil ; crock 

 the pots freely, and give water carefully. Aphelexis are 

 not, however, plants for the beginner to try to grow. 



AotUS g'raeillima. — This beautiful hard-wooded plant, 

 from New Holland, is not often grown in the greenhouse, 

 but when planted out in the border or grown in pots it is 

 equally charming, the deep orange and crimson flowers 

 being produced in rich profusion, whilst the growth of the 

 plant is very graceful. 



Azalea. — The Azaleas form one of the principal families 

 of hard-wooded plants, and are still held in high esteem 

 for exhibition, especially on the Continent, from whence 

 comes the majority of the neat little bushes so bright in 

 the greenhouse during the spring. Specimen plant 



growing, however, is a fashion of the past. Twentyyears 

 ago huge Azaleas were a feature of all the more important 

 exhibitions, but in the present day they are seldom seen. 

 It would hardly be sufficiently interesting to deal at length 

 with the culture of the greenhouse or Indian Azalea, 

 because in very few gardens are the plants raised from 

 cuttings, the plants being usually grafted. At the present 

 time the Azalea is grown to give cut flowers, and many 

 an old specimen of Fielder's White, with gentle forcing, 

 is one of the mainstays of the flower-basket in winter, as 

 happily the plant does not in the least object to being cut 

 about considerably. Azaleas, like hard-wooded plants in 

 general, require very firm potting in a soil of sand)' peat, 

 and strict attention paid to watering throughout the year. 

 Give air freely, and in the summer, if the plants are large, 

 place theirr out with the Camellias in a fairly shaded 

 place, and upon a layer of coal ashes, to prevent worn s 

 finding an entrance into the pots and disturbing the 

 drainage. The object of standing them out in June, aftei 



