I 
6 
Pehtasdru Lisnjji. 
ermine azalea. 
azalea in dig a. 
T H 1 S Hedge Shrub, wild, and common throughout the Ciunese Empire, excels 
all that we know in our gardens. They introduce it in their romantic works of 
artalfo; where it carries an evcrlalling bloom in the bont of thofe drange rocks, with 
which they terminate their views ; or flartlc the ftranger's eye in their vuft ga/dens. 
There is a fatteny foftnefs in the flower, unlike all the EuRorEatj kinds j and its con-' 
fideuble fizc, and mod extraordinary painting, gives it new charaflers of beauty. 
The Shrub is nine foot high, and naturally grows in a loofe open manner, fpreadimr 
into didant branehes, which the winds play witli, in great wantonnefs, and through 
which the frcfli air at all times breathes freely : to this perhaps is owing, in a great 
degree, the peculiar ludre of the bloom. Our gardeners know how ed'.niial this free 
coiirfe of air is to the perfection ot Fruits : perhaps it is as reqiii/ile to the full beauty of 
Flowers. Mildews and blights aifedt tliefe tender parts of Plants as w'cll as the Fruit ; and 
to render them fully glowing, it may be as needful to nrevent the ticcahons of inch ac- 
cidents. Nature has done a great deal in tiiis Plan:, and we fee the con.'i.quenee ; arc 
may try in others. 
The Leaves are of a delicate green on the upper part, and whitidi underncith. The 
Wood is firm and white, and the Bark brown. The Cups from which the Flowers rife 
are foft and downy ; cut into five fegments. The Flower itfelf is white, tinged on the 
back witli a deep crimfon. The fame colour, only brighter, plays alfo on the edges ; 
and on the ermine whitenefs of the body of the Petals it is again damp’d in little fpots ; 
as art difpofes the black tails of that creature in making habits of the fkins. One Petal 
forms the Flow'cr, but it is deeply cut into five parts, and within rife five elegint and c n- 
fpicuous Filaments : thefe are crimfon, and crown’d with yellow buttons. Thcft^.. is 
Cngle. 
In the wild date it flowers twice in the feafon ; painting the hedges fp'ing and 
autumn. In gardens it blooms throughout the year ; and never drops the leaf. The 
Chinese, who attend to the lead circiimdances, in their culture of Plants, manage this 
Shrub in a peculiar way, to keep it always blooming. Every evening they take off tl.e 
decay’d Flowers with their Stalks. This prevents the ripening of feeds ; and confe- 
quently more Flowers follow : as in our domcdic fowls, if they be permitted to fir, the 
laying ccafcs, but if the eggs are removed that fhoulJ have afl'orJed the young brood, 
they continue to lay on. 
Thus every morning there is a fucccfiion of buds, which, when the fun grows warm 
upon them, burd at once into thefe noble Flowers: an elegant and wondcrlul appearance. 
The five Filaments flievv this Shrub to be one of tlic PENr.sNiiRiA, the fifth clafs in 
the Se.xual S)dem. 
The Flower varies amazingly under the culture of theChinefe in regard to colour, but 
diey have not, fo far as I learn, made any advance towards doubling it. 
Azalea floribus rub.'blitariis, calycibus pilafis. 
