GHENT AZALEAS 
77 
from the large number of named varieties that were listed 
by nurserymen seventy-five years ago. 
Their history dates back to 1738; when Peter Collinson, 
the friend of Linnaeus, introduced R. nudiflorum, R. viscosum j 
and R, calendulaceum from North America. The yellow 
R.flavum (Azalea pontica) was not introduced until 1793. 
According to Loudon, Messrs. Lee and Kennedy were the 
first to raise h^^brids from them in this country. Then 
followed Osborne, of Fulham, and the Waterers. Loddiges 
enumerated 107 varieties in his catalogue nearly seventy years 
ago. Their hybrids were chiefly the result of crossing the 
American species with R.flavum, A baker in Ghent named 
Mortier also raised many hybrids and seedlings from them. 
His work was taken up by the Ghent nurserymen, including 
van Cassel and Verschaffelt, and their plants soon became 
prime favourites in England, where they were known as 
Ghent Azaleas. Van Houtte was the first to raise double- 
flowered varieties. 
These Azaleas are now grown in Ghent in enormous 
quantities for the supply of the English and other markets. 
One-year-old seedlings are used as stocks for the named 
varieties, which are grafted as Indian Azaleas are. They 
make saleable plants in about two years. 
R, sinense (Azalea mollis) is also very largely grown in 
Belgium. Van Houtte raised many seedlings, and did much 
to improve the substance and colour of its flowers. It is of 
special value for forcing, besides being a first-rate flowering 
shrub for the open air. This species has also been used 
as a breeder by Messrs. Foster, Cuthbert, A. Waterer, and 
others, who have crossed it with various Ghent Azaleas, the 
result being that the seedlings have gained richness of 
colour and substance from the Ghent race, and size from 
