98 
INDIAN AZALEAS, 
marked a new era in the history of seminal varieties, and the 
employment of it with the judicious mixing of Sinensis , lateritia , 
and a few others, has resulted in the production of such as com¬ 
bine the most vivid colours with an outline and texture almost 
faultless. ' 
How to raise seedlings is a matter that every one who grows 
Azaleas desires to be practically acquainted with, for, if nothing 
deserving of continued attention should happen to result, the 
young plants thus obtained usually afford very excellent subjects 
whereon to graft others that it is desired to increase. Wherever 
the intention goes beyond the mere raising of stocks, particular 
care must be given to the selection of the seeds. Let it only be 
saved from positively the best, that is, such as possess an unobjec¬ 
tionable outline. In all operations of the kind among flowers 
subject to the rules of the florist, and where improvement is de¬ 
signed, the shape and texture must rule before any other con¬ 
sideration, because it is more pleasing to look upon full round 
flowers than on a meagre-looking, narrow-petalled object, how¬ 
ever bright its colour; and the latter qualification is always found 
more easily attainable than the former, and so, if we once establish 
a predisposition to the circular, the remaining embellishment is rea¬ 
dily effected; and, as it is only reasonable to expect in the offspring 
a continuance of the leading features of the parent, so it would 
be absurd to propagate an ill-formed variety with the expectation 
of an unobjectionable race from it, such a course would wilfully 
entail the profitless trouble of going over ground that has been 
already traversed. Therefore, let only such as have the best 
shapes be selected for the purpose, especially those intended to 
bear the seed, for, though not quite a matter of certainty, in 
most cases it is found that the female parent imparts the greatest 
share of character to the future plant. 
As soon as the flowers open, the anthers of those designed to 
carry the seed should be cut out without injury to the stigma, 
and this, when in a fit state, which will be when the flower is in 
its highest perfection, should be dusted over with the pollen from 
the kind it is intended to mingle with it. As a general rule it is 
not desirable to force flowers intended for such a purpose, but 
in this case, from the long time necessary to ripen the seed, it is 
advisable to get the plants in bloom by the middle of April, so as 
