39Q 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



species with Rhododendron flavum, formerly called 

 A. pontica, and when planting them choose a sheltered 

 position, not because the shrubs are in any way tender, 

 but t«i shield the flowers as much as possible from cold 

 winds and late frosts. The majority of them are in 

 bloom before the time of frosts has hardly passed, and 

 sometimes a few nipping frosts will destroy the flowers 

 wholesale. It is to minimise the evil of this as far as 

 possible that shelter is advisable. But lew shrubs, it 

 may he added, are mine suitable lor planting in woodland 

 or on the fringe of walks than these, as here the colours 

 are brought out in full richness, lighting up the landscape 

 even more brightly than masses of the Rhododendrons, 

 familiar in many gardens, and which are frequently over- 

 done. It may seem strange to write of Rhododendrons 

 being less brilliant than the Azaleas when all are grouped 

 under the same heading, but in the course of time one 

 will get accustomed to this alteration in nomenclature. 

 A peat soil or a mixture of loam and peat will provide 

 suitable material, and it may be useful to mention that 

 Mr. Waterer writes as follows respecting this class : 

 '■ In a general way all American plants may be said to 

 delight in, and to require, what is called peat soil ; it was 

 at one time believed that they would not thrive in any 

 other. Experience, however, proves the contrary, and it 

 is now found that Rhododendrons and Azaleas, which are 

 the most important of that class, as well as any other of 

 the more vigorous-habited plants, succeed in almost any 

 soil thai docs not contain lime or chalk. In many sandy 

 loams they grow with as much luxuriance as they do in 

 peal ; in fact, almost any loamy soil, lice liom lime or 

 chalk, may lie rendered suitable for them by a liberal 

 admixture of leaf mould or any fibrous material, such 

 as parings of pasture land. When the soil is poor cow 

 dung, in a thoroughly decayed state, forms one of the 

 best manures for these plants.'' Seed-pods, it must be 

 remembered, should be picked off immediately the 

 Hi iw ers are over. 



The principal species are : 

 A. calendulacea {Rhododendron calendulaceum). — A 

 somewhat spreading bush, 6ft. or so in height, bearing a 



profusion of orange-coloured flowers. This is one of the 

 most handsome of North American shrubs, but one 

 does not often see it in English pleasure grounds. The 

 reason, doubtless, why so many of the species are rare is 

 because they have become overshadowed by the splendid 

 beauty of the hybrids. The flowers of A. calendulacea 

 are orange, and of course this beautiful colour is seen 

 distinctly in the hybrid race ; v\ ithout it the Azaleas would 

 lose much of their richness and charm. Bartram, who 

 discovered this species in America, records his first 

 impression thus : "I saw the blossoms covering plants 

 on the hillsides in such incredible profusion that, suddenly 

 opening to view from deep shade, I was alarmed by the 

 apprehension of the hill being on fire." 



A. arborescens (A. arboresce?ts). — This is a little-known 

 shrub, but worth planting for the sake of its very fragrant 

 flowers, which are touched with soft rose. It is not so 

 important as many species, but should be included for the 

 sake of its pleasing foliage and sweetly-perfumed blossom. 



A. indiea. — This is the Azalea so frequently seen in 

 English greenhouses. It is not strictly hardy, but will 

 sometimes succeed in gardens of the South of England 

 and Ireland. Amoenum is a variety of it. It is interesting 

 to find a handsome bush of il in the open unprotected, 

 but of course only in quite favoured climates may it be 

 trusted out of doors. 



A. mollis. — The name is retained because it is so familiar, 

 but R. sinense is the proper designation of a useful little 

 shrub, which seldom grows more than I yd. in height. 

 The flowers expand just before those of the other kinds, 

 and are of a terra-cotta shade, and a sheltered position is 

 necessary if one is to enjoy the blossoms unsullied by 

 late frost. A. mollis is a charming species, its flowers so 

 large and exquisite in colour, though without fragrance, 

 but this is atoi ed for by their colouring, which varies 

 from rose through pink, buff, and salmon, a delightful 

 series, which makes the shrub of great value for growing 

 in pots in the greenhouse. 



A. nildi flora. — A variable species, native of a con- 

 siderable tract of country in North America. It grows, 

 as a rule, from 4ft. to 6lt in height, and, as in the case 



GROUPS OF AZALEAS, ETC. 



