CULTURE OF AZALEAS. 
387 
that part intended to be inserted in the pot. They must he planted 
in either sand or light soil, the former is the best; plunge the pots 
in a little heat, and place a hand-glass over them, and in the course 
of a fortnight or three weeks they will strike root. 
When they have struck root, transplant with balls into single pots, 
filled with the compost recommended for the old plants, and again 
plunge them in a little heat until they have begun to grow, after 
which they may be removed to the greenhouse, and be treated like 
other greenhouse plants. 
Many of the greenhouse species and varieties will bear a good de¬ 
gree of cold, and will thrive very well if planted under the wall of a 
stove, greenhouse, or other warm situation; but in winter they must 
be sheltered by mats from the effects of frost. The Indica Phoeni- 
cea flowers most beautifully, when planted out in the border of a 
conservatory; it will there grow from four to six feet high, with a 
good supply of water, and slight shade. 
Hardy species and varieties require little care; they may either 
be grown on a bed or otherwise to suit the fancy of the cultivator. 
Always select for them a situation somewhat shady and rather damp, 
but by no means one where water stagnates, unless a good drainage 
be laid underneath. 
In all dry summers a good supply of water is advantageous, though 
not indispensable ; but plants so treated always thrive more than un¬ 
der other circumstances. 
Some of the species produce abundance of seed, which may be 
sown in pans or pots as soon as gathered; place them in a shady 
situation, and keep them rather moist, until they vegetate. 
As soon as they are of a sufficient size, transplant them into other 
pots, and place them under a glass, and let them be slightly shaded 
until they have again started. Then expose them by degrees, until 
they are hardy enough to be planted out. 
The hardy species and varieties are also readily propagated by lay¬ 
ers and cuttings. The branches in layering merely require pegging 
down without any tongue, and a regular supply of moisture adminis¬ 
tered. The cuttings may be taken off precisely in the same manner 
as recommended for the greenhouse species and varieties; but, in¬ 
stead of planting in pots, they may be planted under a hand-glass, 
on a shady border. 
The Azalea is scarcely separable from Rhododendron, with regard 
to the number of stamens, some seedlings raised from Azaleas hav¬ 
ing only five stamens, have themselves possessed ten, and even more, 
whilst seedlings raised from Rhododendrons have had less than ten 
