^ocietp ^otess. 
“ A. NUDIFLORA, A. CANESCENS, A. VISCOSA, A. ARBORESCENS, A. 
occiDENTALis (they now call A. californica). 
" The first five are the names of species which were used in all the old 
hybridisation experiments. A. occidentalis came in later and has also been 
used, but the first work was undoubtedly with the other five species I have 
named. How far the plants to which names have now been given, namely ; 
A. AUSTRINA, A. PRINOPHYLLA, A. CANDIDA, A. OBLONGIFOLIA, A. SERRULATA 
and A. prunifolia were used up with these old species and have had therefore a 
share in some of the hybridisation work will require to be carefully investigated. 
If you get the book I name (North Amer. Flora, Part I., Vol. XXIX.), you 
will have a botanical basis for a start upon the problem you are going to investi¬ 
gate. My own experience with these Azaleas has been far from satisfactory. 
It is very difficult to get plants that conform with the technical descriptions that 
are given. I imported a great number from America about 28 years ago, and 
many of them are not true to the descriptions. 
“ I am venturing to send you on loan what I think may be of interest to you : 
“1. Loddiges’ catalogue of plants for 1820 and 1823, in which you will find 
lists of the Azaleas then in cultivation. 
"You will be able to separate the American ones from those that are not 
American, and the catalogue will serve to show you what a number of varieties 
there were in cultivation at so early a date. Some of the plants named in the 
catalogue are figured in Loddiges’ Bot. Cabinet, and, as is explained at the 
beginning of each of the lists, the number after the names refers to figures in the 
Cabinet. 
"2. I am also sending you by way of illustration of the state of Azalea 
culture in France early in the last century, a catalogue of Cels nurserj^ for the 
year 1836-1837. By that time Sinensis forms were in as you will see. The 
catalogue will give you a picture of the state of cultivation a little later than 
that shown by Loddiges’. 
" 3. And then I am sending to you a third catalogue, namely of Peter 
Lawson & Sons, the famous Scottish nurseiymien, of date 1858, after the Ghent 
Azaleas had come in, and you will there read both of the varieties of American 
species and also of the so-called Ghent varieties. 
" These catalogues may, I hope, give you some help in your work. 
" 1. BAYLEY BALFOUR.” 
It may be pointed out that R. Vaseyi is the first of the American species to 
flower (early May), and this is followed almost immediately by R. Rhodora* : 
next in order come R. canescens and R. nudiflorum (late May and early June), 
then R. calendulaceum (June), R. arborescens (June-July), and R. viscosum 
last of all (mid-July). 
* R. Rhodora always flowers before R. Vaseyi at Kew—usually in mid-April.—W.J.B. 
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