AZALEAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 992, 7 June 1930, Page 32

AZALEAS

THEIR CULTIVATION The azaleas tree may be planted during June and July. Early planting is advisable before the shrubs begin to flower. This remarkably showy plant is certainly deserving of more widespread popularity, and should be availed of to a greater extent by the home gardener. The species embrace many beautiful varieties, all more or less adapted for ornamenting the home garden plot, provided favourable aspect and good soil conditions are available. For growing in the open ground, the plant requires a shady or partially shady position, and prefers a rich, well dug, loose soil. There are many beautiful colourings incorporated in this glorious garden gem, including magenta, purple, pink, rose, apricot, white, scarlet, etc. When making your choice, endeavour to select shapely, well-furnished specimens. These will build up to good evenly balanced specimens quicker and more readily than straggling illshapen plants. Endeavour to embody •a good selection of colour in your collection.

They should not be planted closer than three feet apart. Dig a hole about 18 inches to two feet deep, and make provision for drainage by placing a quantity of rubble at the bottom of each hole. Before filling in, mix some well rotted dairy manure, together with a good handful of bonedust, with the soil. Now fill in and compress the soil firmly with your feet. Make a hole in the prepared patch sufficiently large enough to accommodate the shaped mass of earth which clings to the roots. Build up the earth round the stem, stamping it firmly as the operation proceeds. Complete the planting with a copious watering.

The after-care of the azalea is extremely simple. Apart from plenty of water in the dry summer months, all the attention required is an annual application of well-rotted stable manure forked lightly round the plant during the early spring months. For pot specimens, azaleas are unrivalled. Treated in this manner, they are also most serviceable and adaptable for verandah and table decoration. For the latter purpose the effect produced by a nicely furnished, well grown plant wholly eclipses a display of cut flowers, and lasts considerably longer. Should you be fortunate enough to possess several varieties, the colours should be changed about from day to day.