86 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
which will, if required, admit of their being kept close and 
partially shaded, as a cool temperature with partial shade from 
intense sun-light is indispensable to the prolongation of their 
beauty. It will be almost unnecessary to remind the cultivator 
that brilliancy of colour will be greatly enhanced by an ex¬ 
posure of the plants during the expansion of bloom to intense 
light; therefore when individual specimens are required for the 
purposes of exhibition, a much greater elevation of the plants 
(with shade during intense sunlight) will be the best means for 
attaining such an object. 
Propagation. These Azaleas are readily multiplied by cut¬ 
tings, planted in equal portions of peat and sand, and covered 
with hand or conical glasses until struck, and also by grafting 
and inarching; the latter is mostly resorted to as a means of 
adding vigour in those varieties whose growth is naturally 
weak. As a general rule, from whatever cause the debility or 
weak growth of certain varieties may arise, it may be assumed, 
perhaps, in all cases, that a constitutional vigour is imparted by 
their union with more robust varieties. That division of which 
Lateritia , Gledstanesu , and Variegata , form the type, will be 
readily recognised as adapted to the foregoing remarks, by 
their naturally small and slender habit of growth. 
Properties. The honey obtained from A. pontica is pos¬ 
sessed with powerful narcotic qualities, and is recorded by 
Xenophon to have caused the deaths of several soldiers in the 
famous retreat of the ten thousand Greeks. 
Diseases. The most common disease to which the genus 
appears subject, is a species of fungi making its appearance 
on the underside of the leaves, which may in general be attri¬ 
butable to excessive moisture, acting upon an impeded circula¬ 
tion of sap in the leaves, &c., and which may be further as¬ 
signed to an “ undue action between the atmosphere in which 
they are placed, and the absorbing power of the material in 
which they are grown.” From the foregoing remarks the culti¬ 
vator will now readily perceive that a strict attention to due 
proportions of soil in potting, to maintaining an uniform tem¬ 
perature during the progressive stages of growth, and to the 
proper state of the atmosphere during such growth, are the 
only sure means of securing a healthy and vigorous condition 
of the plants. An eminent cultivator*, speaking of the diseases 
* Mr. J. Barnes of Bicton, in the “United Gardeners’ Journal.” 
