HARDY AZALEAS. 
The Azalea 1ms long taken an important rank among 
flowering shrubs, particularly the greenhouse varieties; 
indeed there is no plant, indoor or out, that will give 
such a blaze of color, as will a good selection of Azaleas 
when well flowered. The American or Hardy Azaleas, 
A. calendulcicea, nudijlora. and viscosa, with hosts of 
garden varieties bred from them, are inhabitants of all 
our best gardens, and have been so wonderfully im- 
China, an evergreen, and perfectly hardy. Another 
splendid new species, of recent introduction, from 
China and Japan, is A. Mollis, a deciduous species, the 
flowers of which are of various colors arid of immense 
size. 
Japan has recently furnished us another beautiful and 
distinct species. A. Balsaminoeflora (see illustration). 
In general character it is quite unique; its flowers are 
Azalea Balsaminoeflora. 
proved by seedling culture as to throw into the shade 
the original species; there can now be selected at least 
fifty varieties better than the very best of the original 
species. Every year, too, adds to the diversity of sorts 
and to the size of the flowers, winch is one of the 
characteristics of the improved kinds. In most places 
they thrive in the common soil of the garden, but for 
successful cultivation leaf mould should be mixed with 
the soil, and where they are grown in masses, which is 
the proper way to produce a good effect, it is best to 
give them a light mulching of dry leaves. 
Azalea Amoena, a beautiful hardy species, with 
double flowers, of a bright reddish-purple color, has no 
equal as a flowering shrub, either for the open border 
or for forcing in the greenhouse. It is a native of 
bright salmony red, beautifully double, rosette-like, and 
regularly imbricated, similar to those of a Camellia- 
flowered balsam. Being very double, it lasts in perfec¬ 
tion a long time, and from the neatness of its blossoms 
is invaluable for bouquets as well as for general decora¬ 
tion. \ 
This species is of so recent introduction, that it is only 
to be met in collections of rare plants; the demand, how¬ 
ever, for such plants will be sufficient inducement for 
our florists and nurserymen to increase their stocks, 
which can be rapidly done, so as to meet the great de¬ 
mand there certainly will be for a plant so beautiful and 
rare. Although it has not been thoroughly tested in 
this latitude, there cannot be any doubt as to its hardi¬ 
ness. 
