44 
THE AZALEA INDICA. 
no account should watering in dry weather 
ever be neglected. Our next year's proceed- 
ings will be the subject of a second lesson ; 
and in the mean time, secure seeds of anything 
very fine of the fruits that are from time to 
time laid before you. 
THE AZALEA INDICA. 
Much of the beauty of the Chinese gar- 
dens, in the early part of the floral season, is 
dependent on the numerous beautiful varieties 
of what are commonly called the Indian Aza- 
leas, which they possess ; and about the 
beginning of May, our own greenhouses and 
conservatories, as well as exhibition-rooms, 
bear ample testimony to their magnificence. 
A few years ago our gardens could boast of 
but few varieties of this particular plant : the 
old white ; phcenicea, a purple ; the double 
purple, with pale, almost lilac, fiowers ; and 
ODe or two others, were all that were in culti- 
vation. Latterly, however, a numerous race 
of hybrids has sprung up, and we now possess 
varieties of very varied tints of colouring, as 
well as of a highly-improved form. The 
mission to China of the botanical collector 
of the Horticultural Society has added several 
new forms to this particular group of Azaleas; 
but while these in some degree extend the 
variety among these flowers, we already pos- 
sess kinds of greater excellence, considered 
individually, than those which the Chinese 
gardens have afforded. 
But much more might be, and no doubt 
will be, effected towards their improvement. 
There are very few varieties even yet of 
really good properties, and we may look ere 
long to see their characteristics united with 
other colours. The best varieties, as regards 
form, are the following: — lateritia, brick-red; 
G'edstanesii, white, usually slightly streaked 
with red, sometimes with flowers all white or 
all red, occasionally half red, half white ; vari- 
egata, delicate flesh colour, with a paler 
margin. In these varieties the segments of 
the corolla are broad, so as to form a close, 
round, flattish, funnel-shaped flower. The 
brightest coloured kinds we have are : — the 
Chinese A. obtusa, recently introduced, which 
is of a rich brilliant crimson ; and an English 
variety, called refulgens, with much larger 
flowers, of a similar or even brighter colour. 
In the absence of a pure white of perfect 
form, the old ledifolia (indica alba, as it is 
sometimes called), or some of the larger va- 
rieties, may be chosen. Neither is there yet 
any perfect forms of the deep purple colour 
of phoenicea ; the variety Triumphant is of a 
kind of rosy purple, but much lighter than 
phoenicea. 
The culture of the Indian Azalea is not 
difficult, if one or two points are attended to. 
They do best in soil composed chiefly, if not 
entirely, of peat earth, in a rough turfy state, 
and mixed with sand in proportion to its 
degree of porosity. That kind of peat soil is 
the most proper for them which is of a light 
fibrous texture, and contains naturally a good 
proportion of clean sharp sand ; this should 
be collected in the form of turves of three or 
four inches in thickness ; and when used 
should be well broken clown by the spade and 
hand, but not sifted, to remove the fibrous 
portions. For the strongest growing kinds, 
a slight mixture of loam is desirable, in the. 
proportion of about one part in six or eight ; 
a nice free mellow loam is the most proper to 
be employed. They require plenty of pot- 
room, and the pots must be efficiently drained, 
as they require to be liberally supplied with 
water, both when flowering and when growing. 
The best time to repot them is just after they 
have done blooming, which will generally be 
from the beginning of April to the middle of 
May. Plants which have bloomed veiy early, 
from having been forced, may be potted when 
about in the same state. By potting at this 
period the growth of the roots is excited, and 
they form themselves before and during the 
time of the growth of the shoots. When 
young plants are to be grown on into speci- 
mens, they may be prevented from blooming, 
and then potted and started into growth some- 
what earlier, that is, during the month of 
March. Just previous to shifting they should 
be put into a house where they will be sub- 
jected to a moist genial atmosphere, and a 
temperature of from 50 to 55 degrees. While 
growing they require plenty of air and light, 
but not an excess of either ; thus, for example, 
draughts of cold air must be avoided, as they 
are highly injurious; and very strong sunshine 
during the middle of the day should be kept 
from them by a slight shading, until the 
young shoots get pretty well matured, when 
they may have the full sun. Small plants 
intended to be formed into specimens, should 
not be allowed to flower for a year or two ; 
or, at least, a more perfectly formed plant 
may be obtained by this arrangement. To 
effect this, the plants must be kept moderately 
dry in a cool greenhouse, for the winter ; and 
then in the following spring submitted to a 
similar course of treatment. If it is desired 
to grow them on very rapidly, they may be 
potted again about July, when the first growth 
has been pretty well matured, having been 
first subjected to coolness and moderate dry- 
ness, and then placed in a warmer damp 
atmosphere, to excite a second growth. When 
this is attempted, the second growth should 
be completed early, so as to admit of being 
well ripened before winter. If it is not 
