JULY. 



97 



AZALEA MARS. 



WITH AN" ILLUSTRATION. 



We are indebted to Mr. Kinghorn, of Sheen Nursery, Richmond, for the 

 present opportunity of figuring the fine variety of Azalea called Mars, which 

 we believe we may correctly describe as the brightest of all those with red 

 flowers approaching to scarlet. It is indeed a remarkably brilliant and attractive 

 flower. 



Mr. Kinghorn has been remarkably fortunate in having raised and sent 

 forth during the last year or two some varieties of very high merit. One of 

 these, named Kinghornii, has rosy flowers, well formed, remarkably smooth, 

 and beautifully spotted ; another, called President, has finely-formed and well- 

 marked blossoms of a deep salmon red ; and another again is this Mars, which 

 we now figure. The latter, when shown not long since at a meeting of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society, was commended both on account of the form of 

 its flowers and their brilliant colouring, so that we may regard its merits as 

 being well attested. Technically it may be described as having the flowers 

 large, smooth in texture, and firm in substance ; the segments broad, rounded, 

 and even ; the upper ones conspicuously spotted with purplish-crimson on a 

 ground of bright orange red approaching scarlet, which is common to the rest 

 of the corolla. The variety has something of the character of that called 

 Perfecta elegans, but the colour is decidedly brighter, and the other properties 

 of the flower are fully equal if not superior to those of that variety. 



During the present season we have had some remarkable additions to this 

 already brilliant and popular family. The most meritorious is one called Due 

 cVAremberg, a salmon pink variety, deeply bordered with white, occasionally 

 striped with carmine, and spotted below the sinuses of the upper segments with 

 deep rose red. This, which is of Belgian origin, is in every way a first-class 

 Azalea, the form and technical properties of the flowers being all that can be 

 desired, and the colour remarkably pleasing and effective. Still more striking 

 as to colour is another new Belgian variety called Souvenir du Prince Albert, 

 which has flowers of a bright and deep salmon rose, very rich, with a broad 

 pure white margin and semi double. In its deep ground colour and the strong 

 contrast of the margin, this is as yet unrivalled, but it is hardly sufficiently 

 filled-out in its outline. We are glad to be able to conclude our notice of this 

 fine Azalea by some cultural directions with which we have been favoured by 

 Mr. Barnes, of Camberwell, himself the raiser of some extremely ornamental 

 varieties, one of which, called Magnet, ranks among the most useful of its 

 race : — 



" The additions which have been made within the last few years, some of 

 which have been obtained for us by English growers, and many others by our 

 French and German friends, have wrought a considerable change for the better 

 in the aspect of the varieties of Indian Azaleas most generally cultivated. A 

 few years back any new variety with striking colours was considered a great 

 acquisition, without regard either to the shape of its flowers or to its habit of 

 growth. That time, however, is past; and now, unless a variety combines 

 along with beauty of shape and stoutness of texture in the flowers a vigorous 

 habit of growth, it is not considered of first-rate quality. 



" There are few plants more easily cultivated than the Azalea. It can be 

 propagated by cuttings or by grafting. The latter plan is generally resorted 

 to when the variety is considered weak in constitution ; as by selecting fine, 

 strong, free-growing, robust kinds for stocks, and grafting them while the 

 stocks are vigorous and full of sap, fine plants will soon be had, if proper care 

 is given to them. 



vol. i. h 



