100 
INDIAN AZALEAS. 
* 
quite likely that some years of attention may be thrown away in 
consequence of its inability to support the head when full-grown. 
This operation should be performed with wood of the same age 
as that recommended for cuttings, and when the juncture is 
made the plant should be kept in a close, humid, and slightly 
elevated temperature till the union is complete, when the head 
of the stock should be cut away gradually and the new wood of 
the scion encouraged and regulated as occasion may present. 
The management of specimens is a matter of high interest to 
all who delight in a greenhouse, for few plants make a more 
ample return for attention than these: their magnificently rich 
flowers may be had to embellish the collection through the 
greater part of the year, and that in such profusion as is nowhere 
else equalled. To begin the cultivation of these charming plants 
we should select healthy young plants, whose roots just fill a 
four-inch pot; they have then safely passed the accidents and 
chances of infancy, and may be expected to progress rapidly 
under good treatment. At the starting it should be determined 
whether a few flowers produced every year till the plant attains a 
stature worthy of notice is to be taken into account, or if it is not 
better to grow it rapidly for the first two years, without regard 
to the blossoms. With the first method we have little to do : it 
will then only be necessary to keep it in the greenhouse through 
the winter : repot it immediately it has flowered, and place it in 
the open air through the summer. But if it is thought worth 
while to wait a couple of seasons for the flowering, in the mean 
time ensuring handsome specimens, then to produce a rich dis¬ 
play of flowers, we may say that the possessor intends to culti¬ 
vate them to the greatest advantage. In March such plants as 
we have described should be repotted, using sandy peat, full of 
fibre and well drained. In turning the plant out of the pot, the 
roots should be carefully preserved, as, from their silk-like tex¬ 
ture, they are peculiarly susceptible of injury. If the ball of 
earth has been allowed to get hard the bottom may be gently 
loosened with the hand, in a manner that does not lacerate the 
roots. Then, having the new pots ready drained, put a sufficient 
quantity of soil in and place the plant on it. In filling the sides 
up, with every handful of soil mix a few broken potsherds and 
press it all down firmly, give a gentle watering, and stand the 
