NATIVE PLANTS IN FIELD, FOREST AND GARDEN. 



287 



those found in other parts of the world, coming nearer 

 to the rhododendrons. The flowers are large, showy 

 and of all colors. Double varieties are also common. 

 A. amacria and A. ohtiisa are both handsome little 

 evergreen shrubs and quite hardy. The flowers are 

 about an inch in diameter; the first a bright purplish 

 red, and the later ones an orange red approaching flame 

 color, are worthy of notice. 



All the hardy varieties and species require nothing 

 more than a good rich garden soil, but it should be deep 

 and contain a fair proportion of vegetable mold. They 

 all form what may be called clumps or balls of earth 

 through which the fine roots ramify in all directions 

 but seldom push out singly. In transplanting, this ball 



mixed, is the best. In potting give only room enough 

 for enclosing the root-ball with fresh soil — an inch 

 between the ball and the pot is sufficient. Shift the 

 plants annually after they have bloomed and finished 

 their growth, or just before the buds swell for bloom- 

 ing, and at each shift increase the size of the pots. 



The plants need a season of rest, and if bloomed in 

 winter should be placed in a half shady cool position dur- 

 ing summer, and have water sufficient to prevent shrivel- 

 ing and loss of foliage. In the fall they should be re- 

 moved to a place where they can be kept at a nearly uni- 

 form temperature of about 60° until the buds begin to 

 swell, when the heat should be increased very gradually. 

 A slight change, if sudden, will blast the buds. A great 



Fig. 7. Shortia galacifolia. 



of earth should be removed with the plant and not 

 broken or torn apart, and if care is taken there is little 

 danger of losing them even when transported long dis- 

 tances. Before planting it is always well to soak the 

 ball of earth thoroughly that the water may reach the 

 center roots as well as those on the outside. When 

 planting, the soil should be pressed firmly about the ball 

 enclosing the roots, else there is danger of the water 

 from rains escaping through the more porous soil and 

 leaving the roots dry. The Chinese varieties require 

 similar soil, but as they are to be grown in pots, it 

 should be made quite rich but no fresh rank manure 

 should be used. Old sods from a rich pasture with cow- 

 manure added, made into a compost heap and thoroughly 



amount of sun is not necessary, but they will be none 

 the worse for it. There is no plant that is more worthy 

 of a place in window gardens or gives better return for 

 the care bestowed than the azalea. 



All the species may be raised from seed, from layers 

 and from green cuttings. — L. A. Roberts, Neiv York. 



Stray Wildings. — All through the unfenced moun- 

 tain lands of western North Carolina — lands where every 

 man's herds have all things in common — go narrow, 

 winding paths, etched by sharp and nimble hoofs that 

 here found nearest and easiest climbing to water, to 

 fresh, sweet beds of grass, or to the "lick logs," where, 

 in notches cut in fallen patriarchs, meal and salt are 

 kept by the herdsmen. 



