150 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Fetrtiarj 19, 1891. 
them. Large numbers of seedlings have been raised from Azalea 
mollis, which are commonly known as Japanese Azaleas. These 
appear to be more popular at the present time on account of the 
greater size of their flowers, and there are few plants so bright and 
attractive for indoor decoration as well-flowered shapely specimens 
of these Azaleas, when they are arranged singly in vases or in 
mixed groups with plants of a dwarf nature. When used in a cut 
state the flowers are well adapted for filling specimen glasses. The 
flowers of American Azaleas are not so imposing, being smaller, 
but on that account they are much more suitable for using in 
wreaths, sprays, and buttonholes, or for arranging in vases with 
mixed flowers. They possess, moreover, many beautiful tints, 
which might with advantage be infused into flowers^ of the 
Japanese type. 
In the matter of cultivation they require the same treatment. 
Both are admirable for planting in beds in the pleasure grounds, 
or in bold masses in the front of shrubberies form a great attrac¬ 
tion when surrounded by the fresh green leaves and varied forms 
of other trees and shrubs. When planted in the open air, if 
possible a peat bed should be prepared for them, although in some 
cases they thrive well in the natural soil if a heavy dressing of 
leaf soil is first given, and I know of one instance in which they 
grow and flower remarkably well in a strong clay ; but as it is only 
in rare cases that they succeed in soil of this nature, it is, I 
consider, a wise policy to plant in peat, unless it has been ascertained 
beyond question that they will thrive in the natural soil. 
Where the plants are grown in pots for forcing, a regular 
system of cultivation ought to be pursued. In too many cases they 
do not receive enough attention when they have done flowering 
and the growing season commences, the consequence being that 
shoots which ought to have been strong and sturdy become weak 
and stunted—an undesirable state of affairs, which it takes at least 
a year to put right again. Those plants that have been subjected 
to a high temperature to bring them into growth should, as soon as 
their flowers have faded, be again placed in structures where they 
receive a temperature of from 60'’ to 70° by fire heat ; later plants 
will require less fire heat, but a little is of benefit during cold 
nights up to the end of March. Throughout the growing season 
when the weather is bright the plants should be syringed once a 
day, and a weak solution of guano water given two or three times 
a week when they require water at the roots. As soon as growth 
is fully completed place the plants in cold pits for a couple of 
weeks to harden before placing them in a sheltered position 
in the open air. Here they should remain till the end of May. 
A few of the strongest plants should then be selected to retain 
in pots and supply the earliest for forcing the following year. 
As a rule the selected plants are those which carried fewer 
trusses of flower, and were, therefore, less weakened by the 
process of forcing than their more floriferous companions, con¬ 
sequently the energies of the plants were to a greater extent 
directed toward the production of young shoots. We find these 
strong plants if kept in pots may be forced into flower the 
following season more quickly than those potted during the 
autumn. They must, however, be well attended to in the matter 
of watering during the summer months. They are benefited by 
having the pots plunged about two-thirds of their depth in 
cocoa-nut fibre or coal ashes if placed in a very sunny position. 
After selecting the requisite number to remain in pots the 
others should be planted out in the reserve garden for two seasons 
— i.e., till the following November twelvemonth, when they will, 
in the majority of cases, be ready to lift for forcing again, the 
exceptions being any that have not made satisfactory progress. 
These should be taken up and replanted in a batch by themselves, 
and not be used for forcing till they are well studded with flower 
buds. When once a good stock of these showy Azaleas is 
obtained by working them in succession, and following a 
regular system of culture, a given number of plants in proper 
condition for forcing may each year be ready for use.— 
H. Dunkin. 
SEDUMS. 
{^Continued, from j)age 104.') 
Another section may be described as having thicker and more 
fleshy leaves than those last mentioned. S. dasyphyllum, the Thick¬ 
leaved Stonecrop, might, however, almost be included among the 
former. It has neat, broad, thick, glaucous green leaves and white 
flowers, and is a native of IBritain. S. album, a native plant, has 
leaves which are, to give the exact description, “scattered, oblong, 
cylindrical, i to ^ inch long, of a brownish green, stalkless, 
smooth.” The flowers are white, or rather pinkish in tone, and are 
produced in corymbs. This is a native of Britain and several 
parts of Europe. What would only appear to be a variety of this 
is figured by Wooster as S. turgidum, and is a native of the south 
of France. This also has been the victim of some doubt as to its 
name. Ramond gave it the name of S turgidum ; ten years later 
Bastard or Batard named it S. micranthum, and Da Candolle, con¬ 
sidering it only a variety of S. album, named it S. a. j3. micran¬ 
thum. The leaves are more inflated in appearance than those of 
S. album. To come to what may also be accounted a different 
section, with broader, flatter leaves, and mostly herbaceous in habit, 
one of the most useful and beautiful is S. kamtschaticum, a native- 
of Eastern Siberia, whence it was introduced in 1829. It grows 
from 4 to 6 inches high, and has brilliant orange flowers, dark 
green bluntly toothed leaves, and is procumbent in habit. I value 
this as highly as any in my collection. There are several in this 
section with red or pink flowers, and one of the best of these is 
S. spurium, a native of the Caucasus, and introduced in 1816. This 
has bright pink flowers and green unequally toothed leaves. A 
brilliantly coloured variety is in cultivation under the names of 
S. s. coccineum, and S. s. splendens. It is extremely pretty, and 
worthy of a place everywhere. 
S. Sieboldi is fairly well known, and is certainly one of th& 
rest of the red-flowered kinds.- It makes a good basket or pot 
plant, but is unfortunately not seen to the best advantage unless 
below the eye. The leaves are of a glaucous grey in summer, but 
in autumn if in a dry position assume a brilliant red colour. The- 
flowers are freely produced on stems 6 to 8 inches long, and are of 
a purplish rose. There is a variegated variety which is also very 
pretty, a native of Japan. S. pulchellum, a North American 
species, is very handsome and distinct, being of an erect habit, and 
rising from 8 to 10 inches high ; the flowers are a rosy purple, the 
leaves greenish in colour, linear, and flatfish. Sedum spectabile or 
Fabaria is pretty well known, and is one of the most valuable of 
the late flowering and erect species. It is of great value in the 
border, on rockwork, or in pots, its large bright heads of purple 
rose flowers giving a distinct charm to the spot on which it is- 
grown. In some places it is rather largely used for bedding out, 
and a large mass in flower will not readily be forgotten. It- 
is a native of Japan. There appears to be some confusion in 
the nam.es of this plant. The original S. Fabaria seems to have 
been white, a native of Europe and a biennial, and I should, be 
glad to have some light thrown on this question. S. Ewersi, pink, 
and several others might be profitably mentioned, but the length 
of my M.S, reminds me that I must unwillingly draw these notes- 
to a close. I should like, however, to refer briefly to an erect 
yellow-flowered species, which grows about 9 inches high. This is- 
S. hybridum, a native of Siberia, and introduced in 1776. Why 
named “ hybridum ” I know not, as it appears to have a good claim 
to specific distinction. The only other I shall speak of at present- 
is S. cceruleum, an annual species and a native of Africa, whence it 
was introduced in 1822. It is one of those fascinating fairy plants- 
which compel us to return to them again and again. A carpet of 
green leaves, bespangled thickly with exquisite light blue flowers— 
such is the only description we can pen of this gem of the genus ; 
but this description only makes one regret that no language of 
mine can fitly pourtray this fairy Stonecrop. 
There is little to be said about cultivation. All like full sun, 
and most prefer a little lime rubbish in the soil ; but most are so- 
accommodating in their habits that they bear a great deal of bad 
treatment without apparent injury. Treat them well, however, 
and give them an opportunity of displaying themselves, and they 
will well repay the trouble given them. Propagation is easily 
effected by seeds, division, or cuttings. The latter mode is so easy 
that little is gained by the others. It is as well to let the cuttings- 
dry for a few hours before inserting in light sandy soil. 
I feel that I have done but scant justice to these singular and 
interesting plants. There are still a number in my collection and 
others that I am well acquainted with, and of which I have said 
nothing ; but at some future time I may recur to the Stonecrops, 
and trust that meantime the subject may be dealt with by an abler 
pen.— S. Arnott. 
THE EAST ANGLIAN HORTICULTURAL CLUB. 
The Apple. 
The monthly meeting of the above was held on Wednesday, February 
11th, 1891, at the usual place, about forty members being present. A 
very able paper was read by Mr. Baxter, The Gardens, Marlingford 
Hall, on the culture of Apples, in which he dilated on the varieties he 
had found most adapted to the soil and situation with which he had to 
contend, together with the stocks found most suitable in his experience. 
On entering his present situation, eleven years ago, he found some 
160 trees had been planted some ten years previous, three parts of 
which were Apples, the remainder Pears and Plums. The former com¬ 
prised pyramids and bushes, fine healthy and shapely trees, full of 
vigour, had been regularly pruned, but seldom bore any fruit. The 
first year he half-roct-pruned them -with but little success. Soil is a 
strong heavy loam resting on a clay subsoil. The following season he 
