Plate 307. 



AZALEA MOLLIS— COMTE DE GOMEE. 



This fine variety of this distinct and useful Japanese Azalea, received the honour 

 of a First- class Certificate of Merit at the meeting of the Eoyal Horticultural Society 

 on May 13th, when exhibited by Messrs. James Yeitch and sons, Royal Exotic Nurseries, 

 Chelsea. It is a grand variety, the flowers of which are of a soft rosy salmon tint, 

 faintly shaded with orange ; large and well-formed, and forming a fine and showy truss. 



Azalea mollis is a fine and striking species introduced from Japan some years ago, 

 and from which many fine varieties have been obtained. It has been regarded by 

 botanists as synonymous with A. /Sinensis, but it is abundantly distinct for all garden 

 purposes. The varieties raised from it will become very useful as decorative plants ; 

 they are, however, early bloomers, and therefore likely to be even more useful for forcing 

 purposes than for the open garden, at least in situations where they would be liable to 

 suffer from spring frosts. 



Plate 368. 



ALPINE AURICULA — DUCHESS OE CONXAUGIIT. 



The beautiful variety forming the subject of our illustration, is one of a batch of fine 

 new flowers shown this season for the first time by Mr. Charles Turner, of the Royal Nursery. 

 Slough. It was seen at the Exhibition of the southern section of the National Auricula 

 Society, held in London in April last, and in such good form as to well deserve the Eirst- 

 class Certificate of Merit awarded to it on that occasion. It belongs to the section of shaded 

 Alpines, the dark velvety maroon body colour being distinctly and regularly shaded with 

 violet purple, the centre pale gold. The flowers are of good size, flat, smooth and stout, 

 and altogether of fine form ; the truss large, handsome and striking. 



The section of Alpine Auriculas is finding much favpur among lovers of hardy spring 

 flowers. They are so bright in colour, so free, and beautifully coloured and shaded, in 

 many cases with bold and striking golden centres, that it is not to be wondered at they 

 engaged so much attention when staged at Auricula shows. The inferior varieties make 

 handsome border flowers, being very hardy, and in a favourable season yielding capital 

 heads of bloom. 



