ON THE CULTIVATION OF INDIAN AZALEAS. 
209 
bLa<pO€LpoiJL€vr]S Tr]<s Kara t aepa Kpaaecos ovre oivov ovre eXaiov (^epet," which is thus 
translated by Petrus Wesselingius, Amsterdam, 1745, " Excessus igitur frigoris in causa 
est, ut corrupta aeris temperie nec vinum nec oleum producatur." 
This proves that at that time neither the vine nor the olive grew in France, so that 
Csesar must be taken to except from the vegetation of Britain, not only the beech and fir, 
but the vine and olive also. 
I have no doubt the error may have arisen from Mr. MTntosh not having had the 
opportunity of referring to the original authors, which, on a point involving so much 
interest, is always well worthy of the trouble. 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF INDIAN AZALEAS. 
By Mr. Eyles. 
This beautiful tribe of plants (some of the varieties of which are to be met with in almost 
every collection) seems to be very generally and very deservedly admired, and is culti- 
vated with a greater or less amount of success, according to the acquirements and 
convenience of the owner. 
As hard-wooded Greenhouse plants, there are few probably so easy of culture, or less 
impatient of bad treatment than Azaleas, when grown upon the old system of making one 
growth in the season, and then setting their flower-buds, which is generally accomplished in 
the greenhouse ; and they may be set out in the open air (in a shady situation) with safety 
by the latter end of July, there to remain until the cold nights suggest the propriety of 
bringing them back again to their former position. 
But the Azalea, in conjunction with many other plants, are capable of making two or 
three growths in the season under a judicious system of stopping and potting. For 
plants intended to be grown into specimens, I would select from the nurseries or other- 
wise, as soon as they are in a fit condition to be moved after grafting, say about 6 or 8 
inches in height ; I would prefer them with one straight shoot — the younger they are, the 
better — for it is impossible to build up the structure, (if I may be allowed the expression), 
of a good plant, without laying a proper foundation. It is not necessary that all the 
varieties should be grafted, as the strong growing sorts will grow much faster on their 
own roots ; but there are many of the most beautiful of this tribe of plants which will not 
survive long on their own roots, and should therefore be grafted on some strong growing 
varieties, such as Plicenicia, Woodsii, or Herhertii. 
The beginning of March is the most advantageous time to commence growing them ; 
they should be placed in a house maintaining a temperature from 50° to 55° Fahrenheit, 
by night, and from 00° to 65° by day, giving air, when the thermometer rises to about 
75^^ or 80° sun heat; taking care that the frosty air, which often prevails at this early 
season of the year, does not come in contact with the plants. They should be syringed 
morning and afternoon on sunny days, and the house shut up early, the atmosphere of 
which should be kept in a humid state, by throwing a little water on the foot-paths and 
against the walls. The heat, when they are thus secured from the rays of the sun, acts 
most beneficially on the plants. 
As soon as they commence growing freely (which should be in a fortnight after being 
placed in heat) they should be examined as to potting ; and if the roots have reached the 
sides of the pots they are already in, (which I should consider to be a 3-inch pot) they 
should be removed to a 5-inch, using for compost good hard turfy peat, with a fifth part of 
well-decomposed cowdung, quite free from worms, and a fifth of silver sand, with a liberal 
quantity of clean pot-sherds, broken rather small, and mixed up with the soil. The pots 
should be well-drained also with clean pot-sherds, placing a large piece over the hole, and 
filling up about one inch with smaller pieces ; then add a little rough peat to prevent the 
soil mixing with the drainage, and thereby choking it up. As much of the success in 
cultivating specimen plants depends on the efficient drainage of the pots, I have given 
the process more in detail than it would otherwise have required. 
VOL. I. NO. VII. E E 
