AZALE-®. 
29 
and order Monogynia, and in the natural system to the order 
Rliodorece. They are nearly allied to Rhododendron, Kalmia, 
Ledum, and some others, all of which thrive best in bog mould, 
though not in stagnant water. 
Azalea was known to the ancients, though not, perhaps, culti¬ 
vated as an ornamental plant, but on account of the poisonous or 
intoxicating quality of the honey which bees extract from its 
flowers. A. Pontica, which grows abundantly on the wild up¬ 
lands of Asia Minor, is supposed to have, in this way, smitten with 
disease “ the ten thousand” on their memorable retreat from Per¬ 
sia. This property is also common to many of the allied plants. 
This species was not the first introduced into Britain, for azeleas 
were introduced from the swamps of North America about the 
year 1734. A. nudijlora , with a variety, and A. bicolor , and A. 
viscosa, were the first introduced ; and from them, either in Ame¬ 
rica or in Europe, above fifty varieties were obtained. Soon after 
A. glauca and A. hispida were introduced ; and, as the increased 
variety, together with the Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Ledums, and 
others, made fine contrasts, and required a similar soil, they all 
got the name of American plants, and this is popularly continued, 
although plants of similar appearance have been obtained from 
other parts of the world. There is, however, a difference in them, 
according to the Linnsean system ; and this is the reason why, in 
the natural system, they are all included in the order Ericidece. 
A. Pontica» which has a splendid yellow flower, and of which 
there are several varieties, was introduced from Greece in 1793 ; 
and soon afterwards A. Indica and A. Sinensis were introduced 
from China, and A. calendulacece from America. The crosses of 
so many stocks have produced an endless number of varieties, 
especially under the care of the Dutch and Belgian cultivators, by 
whom this department of the art is remarkably well understood. 
All the varieties of these plants, and indeed the whole order to 
which they belong, require to be propagated and grown in peat 
earth, or very sandy loam, though they also grow well in a mixture 
of white sand and leaf mould. They are easily propagated from 
seeds, or by layers, and some of them also by cuttings, if these 
are taken at the right time ; but layers and seeds are chiefly to be 
depended upon. The Chinese species and varieties require shelter 
in a cold pit during winter ; but they should be taken into the 
greenhouse in February or March, in order to perfect their flowers. 
