Separate Accounts have not been published. 133 



keeps it always tied up to a straight stick; this, he con- 

 ceives, encourages the growth of the plant as well as keeps 

 it in a handsome form. The plants are kept in the green- 

 house, as near the glass as possible, and have as much air 

 as can be given ; but they are never taken out of the house, 

 and they are always kept damp by means of pans placed 

 under the pots ; it is not necessary, however, to keep water 

 continually in the pans, as if they were aquatics. When 

 the plants are in a flowering state Mr. Blake removes them 

 into the hot-house, about January, the sudden heat causing 

 the blossom to expand better. In about a month half of 

 the flowers will have opened ; the plant is then replaced in 

 the green-house, where it continues in beauty about six 

 weeks. On the lfith of February, Mr. Blake exhibited to 

 the Society a plant upwards of six feet high, in full blow, and 

 in great beauty, especially considering the season of the year. 



June 1st, 1819. Mr. John Nairn, F.H.S. gardener to 

 John Cresswell, Esq. having exhibited, on the 16th of 

 March, a plant of Azalea hidica, in peculiarly splendid 

 flower, and with its foliage very perfect, was requested by 

 the Council to describe his plan of management, which dif- 

 fers from that of Mr. Blake, above described. The soil 

 which Mr. Nairn uses for this shrub is the most fibrous 

 part of peat earth, well rubbed through a sieve, with one- 

 sixth of pure fine white sand added to it ; when planted, the 

 plants are pressed into the soil rather firmly. By placing 

 them in a strong heat, through the summer, and shifting them 

 into larger pots as often as their roots fill those which they 

 are in, they will attain a considerable size in one season. But 



