March 2, 1882.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
167 
2nd 
Tn 
Boyal Society at 4.30 p.M. Linnean Society at 8 p.m. 
3rd 
F 
4 th 
S 
5th 
SUN 
2nd Sunday in Lent. 
6th 
M 
7th 
TU 
8th 
W 
Society of Arts at 8 p.m. 
GHENT AZALEAS. 
IIESE hardy flowering plants have of late years 
become very popular both for planting outside 
and decoration indoors. Considering the free¬ 
dom with which they grow and flower in the 
neighbourhood of towns it is surprising they 
are not more generally planted. Bhododen- 
drons, as a rule, succeed in smoky neighbourhoods, 
and where they thrive Ghent Azaleas may with 
safety be planted. The old A. pontica is one of the 
best early-flowering shrubs we possess. Taking these 
plants as a whole, what others yield a greater profusion of 
fragrant flowers of various shades of colour with such little 
trouble ? The varieties of Azalea mollis, with their early- 
flowering character and large flowers, have in many gardens 
for indoor work entirely superseded other kinds. This is to be 
regretted, because they do not possess that fragrance so agree¬ 
ably characterising many of the smaller-flowered forms. All 
the varieties with which I am acquainted are less highly per¬ 
fumed than the old A. pontica. A good quantity of it is forced 
here, but its flowers are not so large or fine ia colour and sub¬ 
stance as A. altaclerensis. 
These Azaleas are not only useful for the pleasure grounds 
and glass structures that have to be kept gay with flowers in 
early spring, but for cutting and room decoration either as 
large or small plants. When used for room decoration the 
better varieties should have the most favourable positions 
where gas is not too freely consumed. A. pontica will be 
found serviceable for arranging in clumps in entrance halls, or 
where groups of plants have to be employed. This variety 
will stand much longer than those of the mollis type in such 
positions ; they last nearly as long as if kept in the conser¬ 
vatory, and with but little injury to the plants. 
Judicious care is necessary in producing these plants in good 
condition for early forcing, and if desired at Christmas or 
directly after a haphazard system cannot be depended upon. 
If lifted from the outside for flowering at that date unsatis¬ 
factory results may be anticipated, as they will scarcely have 
shed their foliage before they are placed in heat. To force 
these plants successfully at that season of the year they must 
be grown in pots and assisted early after flowering with light 
and moderate heat to complete their growth and form their 
flower buds. They should then be gradually hardened, and 
placed outside to further ripen and bring them to rest. It is 
necessary to carefully watch these plants when placed outside. 
If the season proves hot and dry the buds are liable to start 
and the flowers to expand during August, especially A. mollis 
and its varieties. This can be prevented by placing the plants 
for a time near the north side of a wall. 
Plants grown in pots will remain in good condition for 
several seasons for early forcing, but in time they become ex¬ 
hausted, and should be planted out to recruit themselves, 
another lot being prepared to take their place. Where a 
succession has to be provided until they flower outside natu¬ 
rally numerous plants are required, which should be divided 
into two batches and forced every alternate year. By this 
means a year’s rest is given, and they have a chance of making 
good growth and develope abundance of flower buds before the 
forcing time arrives. After they have flowered they should be 
carefully hardened before planting them out if good results are 
desired in the future. When ready for planting an open 
position should be selected where they will be fully exposed to 
the sun. 
Large quantities are annually imported from the continent— 
well-budded, shapely plants, and quite suitable for 5 or 6-inch 
pots. These, as a rule, are seedlings of the mollis type, and 
many of them are as good, if not in some instances superior, 
in colour to the named varieties. The demand for these small 
bushy imported plants is evidently increasing. No doubt this 
is due to the difficulty of obtaining similar plants from English- 
grown stocks, but such need not be the case, as I will endeavour 
to show. Plants can be grown as well, if only care and atten¬ 
tion is devoted to them, in this country as upon the continent. 
Propagation is effected by seeds and grafting. Seeds are 
produced freely by plants outside, and there is never much 
difficulty in obtaining a good quantity from A. pontica and 
others which are equally free. In case the mollis forms are 
not planted outside, seed can be saved from them that flower 
early in the conservatory and ripened under glass. When a 
number of good varieties are planted outside some good seed¬ 
lings of various shades of colour may be expected. The bees 
will do all that is necessary towards crossing the different 
varieties ; but this is not the case when flowered early indoors, 
when they will require to be crossed artificially. This is only 
mentioned for those who have, perhaps, only a few plants, and 
are anxious to raise a few seedlings. Where they are raised 
by thousands the seed will be gathered outside as soon as it is 
ripe. That ripened under glass can be sown in a pan when 
gathered, or kept until the February following. 
A large shallow frame should be prepared, placing peat 
about 2 inches deep at the bottom ; that placed on the top 
should be passed through a fine sieve, so that the surface can 
be made even and smooth. The seed should be sown mode¬ 
rately thick and not covered with soil. After sowing a good 
watering should be given through a fine-rose watering-can, and 
the lights placed over the frame and kept close. It should be 
permanently shaded to prevent the surface drying rapidly, as the 
seed bed must not be allowed to become dry in any stage. As 
the season advances the seedlings will appear, and the only atten¬ 
tion needed until they are ready for transplanting is shade, with 
air carefully admitted, and daily sprinklings with the syringe. 
Before the summer is past they can be pricked out into other 
frames or glazed boxes, the latter being frequently employed. 
The soil this time should consist of a good quantity of peat 
and coarse sand, freely intermixed with the natural soil, with 
about half an inch depth of the sand and peat on the surface. 
Such plants as Azaleas or Bhododendrons are not usually 
pricked out singly. A good patch should be lifted from the 
No. 88.—YOL. IY., Third Sbhies. 
No. 1744 .—Vor. LXYTL, Old Seri :s. 
