68 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 
between amoena and a variety of indica known as Due de 
Nassau, is a pretty little red-flowered plant of extraordinary 
floriferousness, which is now raised by the Belgian nursery- 
men in hundreds of thousands by means of cuttings, and 
sold when quite small for decorative purposes. It is also 
largely used, both in Belgium and Germany, as a stock on 
which some of the larger-flowered Indian Azaleas are grafted. 
The several varieties of amoena which are largely grown as 
pot plants, and in the warmer parts, of the British Islands 
are increasing in favour as hardy shrubs, are all propagated 
from cuttings put in in February or March under bell glasses 
or frames. No doubt such species as R. mtricatum, which 
is more or less of the amoena type, may be multiplied 
from cuttings. At any rate, it would be a mistake not to 
try this method for them before resorting to grafting. 
GRAFTING 
The advantages of grafting are in many cases beyond 
question. It is unnecessary here to discuss the arguments 
for and against its adoption for the welfare of many garden 
plants. The cultivation of Rhododendron indicuni is not only 
rendered easy by its means, but it has also made the plant 
important commercially, because the grafted plants are 
cheap, free flowering, and sturdy. Its beneficial influence 
in this case is due to the fact that the only difference 
between stock and scion is a very slight one, for both are 
of the same species. 
With regard to the evergreen Rhododendrons, for which 
grafting has become an almost universal method of pro- 
pagation, the number of plants raised from layers being 
comparatively small, there is a much greater difference in 
constitutional vigour and hardiness between R. ponticum, 
