Jilt 19, 1913. 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
539 
I HARDY AZALEAS. 1 
To the botanist there are no Azaleas, for 
the plants which were at one time included 
in that genus are now grouped with the 
rhododendrons, because the chief difference 
(that of the number of stamens found in 
the flowers, namely, 5 for azalea and 10 
for rhododendron) has broken down in 
species which have been introduced since 
the founding of the genus Azalea. But to 
the owner of a garden there will always be 
azaleas, for, in addition to the two names 
being very useful to distinguish between 
deciduous and evergreen species, there are 
certain kinds wdiich appeal to him under 
ing produced by any flowers grown in the 
outdoor garden. Moreover, so well do the 
various shades tone with each other, that 
in a mixed collection it rarely happens that 
a discordant note is struck, even though 
many shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, 
and white are mixed indiscriminately. 
That the flowers have a delicious perfume 
is another point in their favour; w hile in 
autumn, pre\dous to the fall of the leaves, 
there are few’ more brilliant plants. 
Azaletis require similar cultural treat¬ 
ment to rhododendrons. In moist, but 
well-drained soil, w’hich is fairly free from 
in the case of species, it is not necessary 
to obtain these, for quite as good results 
are to be obtained from mix^ seedlings, 
which may be purchased in large quanti¬ 
ties from nurserymen who make a special¬ 
ity of ericaceous plants. Of the various 
species of azalea the following are suitable 
for general cultivation: 
A. calendulacea.—This is found on the 
mountains of Peiiiisylvania, Carolina, Geor¬ 
gia, etc., growing in fairly moist situations 
either in thin woods or in the open, often 
covering considerable aretis. Growing from 
3 to 8 feet high, it forms a rather dense 
bush, and produces orange, orange-scarlet, 
or reddish flowers. It has been used largely 
by the hybridist, and from it some of the 
richest-coloured hybrids hav’e been ob¬ 
tained. 
A. pontica (R. flavum) is a Caucasian 
lant noted for its large, fragrant yellow 
lossoms. ^Mature specimens may be found 
6 or 8 feet high, though plants 4 to 5 feet 
In the garden of Kenview, Highgate. 
the one name with greater force than undei 
he other. Therefore, so far as horticul- 
urists are concerned, it seems unlikely 
«at the deciduous species will ever be 
Azalea other name bhar 
Originally, the name was applied to cer 
North America and oin 
Tn T Caucasus, and to the ewergreer 
brni*f*i 4 . ^ later years have 
or others in the Chinese A. mollis 
tain T it is often called, cer 
am Japane^ kinds, etc. Then there an 
whiVt^^ ^ hybrids and garden varietiei 
AyaU spoken of collectively as Gheni 
oies a^^tter known than the spe 
to i“ 
in to come. It is 
ties 'fhn+^^+u ^ garden hybrids and varie 
toramona+i g^oup ow’es its popularity 
*^^ost brillln^ found many of th( 
Ibant ar.d delicate shades of colour 
lime, they thrive, but they abhor heavy, 
water-logged ground, and also very limey 
soil. Peaty soil is often suggested for this 
class of plant, but it is not essential to 
growth; in fact, if peat is not the natural 
soil of a district it is inadvisable to intro¬ 
duce large quantities for azaleas, but 
rather mix a little peat with the natural 
soil of the place. By filling beds with peat, 
it is liable to turn sour or decay liefore 
the roots can take advantage of it, and in 
the end acts as poison rather than food. 
Azaleas thrive both in sunny and mode¬ 
rately shady places, the most satisfactory 
results being obtained from plants which 
obtain a fair amount of sun. But in seve¬ 
ral large gardens they answer quite satis¬ 
factorily when planted as an undergrowth 
to thin pine woods, and such plantations 
are very charming w’hen the plants are in 
flower. Named varieties are raised oy 
cuttings, grafts, and layers; but. except 
are more common. Its influence may be 
traced in those forms which have large yel¬ 
low or orange-coloured blossoms. As it 
forces easily it is often used for that pur¬ 
pose. 
A. niidiflora, the Pinxter Flower of 
North America, is wddely distributed from 
Canada to the Southern United States. 
Of similar size to A. calendulacea, it differs 
from that species by having white, pink, or 
red flowers. From it many of the best of 
the light-coloured kinds have been raised, 
and, with calendulacea, it has been respon¬ 
sible for the prcduction of many reds. 
A. mollis (R. sinensis).—Of late years this 
Chinese and Japanese species has been 
grown in enormous quantities for forc¬ 
ing, while it IS also grown extensively in 
the outdoor garden. It is distinguisluMl 
from the North American kind by its 
stiffer and more upright habit and its 
larger flowers, which more closely approa 'h 
