82 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
Horticultural Essays, 
By the Members of the Regent's Park Gardeners Society. 
ON THE CULTURE OF AZALEA INDICA. 
By Mr. T. Davis. 
The beauties of this interesting group of plants, which so ad¬ 
mirably adorn the greenhouse in the early months of spring, 
expanding their many shaded flowers, from the light and deli¬ 
cately marked variety of Gledstanesii to the richly tinted purple 
of Magnifica and Purpurea grandijiora , and the brilliant car¬ 
mine of Lateritia and Danielsiana , render them universal fa¬ 
vourites. What can surpass the delicacy of Indica alba , clothed 
in its mantle of loveliness, gemmed with the coruscations of 
its beauty, decked with its snowy brightness, and reflecting its 
brilliancy on every vegetable form around it! 
This interesting genus derives its name from azaleos , dry, 
arid habitation. It belongs to Pentandria Monogynia of Lin¬ 
naeus and the natural affinity Ericae, section Rhodoraceae. A. 
Indica appears on record as the first species introduced into 
England from China, in 1808, and many of the most beautiful 
are of much more recent introduction ; but the greater number 
of those which are now distinguished as the most ornamental, 
are seminal and intermediate varieties. 
Amongst the primary considerations which affect the well¬ 
being of plants generally, those which relate to the suitability 
of soils and their practical application, rank the foremost; as 
such, the first remarks will be explanatory of those points. 
Potting and Soil. This operation should be performed 
immediately after the season of bloom, thereby aiding artificial 
stimuli in the production of a vigorous and luxuriant growth, 
by the observance of which the cultivator will be more amply 
repaid than when the operation is delayed till a later period. 
The soil most suitable for potting should be six-eighths of well 
pulverised heath-mould in which vegetable matter predomi¬ 
nates, one-eighth of light sandy loam, and one-eighth of sand. 
The shift most appropriate must be regulated according to the 
plants and the condition of the roots. Previously to this process, 
