April SO, 1891.1 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
347 
HARDY AZALEAS. 
^ Varieties of the North American Aza’eas nudiflora, calendulacea, 
viscosa, and some other allied species, were favourites in English 
gardens half a century ago, and in old establishments they are still 
abundantly represented in beds or shrubbery borders. The variations in 
colour obtained by intercrossing are practically innumerable, the 
plants flower most profusely in the spring or early summer months, and 
their fragrance is delightful. Where the so-called “ American gardens ” 
receive due attention no department is more interesting during the 
.season, and the majority of the plants are adapted for damp, partially 
shaded positions, where nothing else would succeed so well. In the 
pleasure grounds at Kew to the right of the Sion House vista, when 
single varieties ; now, however, a series of double forms have been 
secured, which in some respects will prove even more useful. At the 
Koyal liorticultural Society’s meeting on March 24th this year Messrs. 
J. Veitch &: Sons, Chelsea, showed several of these, and two were selected 
by the Floral Committee for awards of merit. One of these, named 
Azalea mollis fl.-pl. Mecene (fig. 61), has large heads of double white 
fragrant flowers, its compact habit rendering it well adapted for culture 
in pots. The other was named Azalea mollis fl.-pl. Norma, and had 
rather larger flowers of a reddish orange salmon tint, very showy and 
distinct. The impression conveyed by these plants is that they have 
resulted from crosses between the Japanese and the American Azaleas, 
and whether this be so or not, there is an evident tendency towards the 
cha’acters of the last named. Some, in fact, were inclined to regard 
FIG. 64.—AZALEA MOLLIS FL.-PL. MECENE. 
jyrocceling from the Palm house, there is a large collection of these 
Azaleaa, with Ledums and other plants, and for some weeks, when 
in flower, they furnish the chief attraction in the gardens, though 
many strangers ml.^s them owing to the inconspicuous position they 
occupy. 
It is not much more than twenty years since the Japanese Azalea 
mollis made its appearance in this country, but the usefulne?s and 
variability of the plant were at once perceived and taken full advantage 
of, especially by raisers on the Continent. Numbers of beautiful distinct 
varieties were secured, ranging through indescribably delicate shades of 
orange, bufif, and rosy salmon, and Azalea mollis became one of the 
most valued of flo^^■ering shrubs for forcing. The flowers are much 
larger than those of the group previously mentioned, and more showy, 
except that they do not possess the peculiarly bright colours distin¬ 
guishing some of the others. Amongst the American Azaleas double 
varieties are abun lant, but the Japanese have hitherto been confined to 
them simply as varieties of that typ’. However, they are certain to 
become favourites with cultivators who have tu force plants in quantity 
for early flowering.—C. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 21st. 
Scientific Committee. —Present: Mr. D. Morr's in the chair ; Mr. 
McLachlan, Dr. Midler, Mr. Blandford, Prof. Church, Mr. AVilson, and 
Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Col. Clarke forwarded flowers of a cross, showing the 
effect of a “ blue ” (female pu-ent) with a very dark purple (male). The 
colour was a bluish purple. He reports that it is a first attempt to form 
a blue tint with a yellow eye. M. Wdlson also exhibited, a number of 
flowers showing new shades of light and dark blue, varying to purple. 
In some the red cirele round the yellow eye had quite disappeared. 
