Garden Notes - Azalea to Cactus

Indian Azalea

Shrub, 3 to 6 feet high; numerous single and double varieties, many of which are hardy in S. England and Ireland. It is best to buy in the spring, and when plants have flowered, pot in compost consisting of five parts fibrous peaty loam and one part silver sand, and place in a temperature of about 65 degrees, syringing overhead morning and afternoon. After fresh potting care must be taken to avoid both under and over-watering until plants are established again. To produce handsome bushy plants, stop back as required while young. Prune straggling shoots after flowering.
 

Camellia-Flowered Balsam

Half-hardy annual, about 18 inches high. Sow seed between the end of March and the beginning of May, in pots almost half full of drainage. Compost: equal parts of loam, leaf-mould and sand. Pots should be covered with glass, and set in a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees. When first leaves appear pot off singly into 3 inch pots, water well and keep plants as near glass as possible. Shift into larger pots when necessary, and admit plenty of light and air when the weather is suitable. Syringe freely overhead, and give liquid manure as flowering season approaches.
 

Double Tuberous-Rotted Begonia

Tuberous-rooted Begonias are among the most interesting and attractive of plants for the amateur's greenhouse, and some hundreds of varieties are in cultivation. Propagate by seeds sown January to March, in pots filled with sifted compost, and plunged in fibre or ashes at a temperature of 60 to 70 degrees. Keep moist, transplanting when three leaves appear. Tubers may be planted in moist cocoanut-fibre or compost in February or March, potting out in May, good drainage being provided. Water moderately March to May, and freely between May and September.
 

Winter-Flowering Begonia

Fibrous-rooted Begonia, especially suitable for flowering in the drawing-room, and blooming freely for several months. Propagated in spring by means of cuttings inserted in light sandy soil or cocoanut fibre at a temperature of about 60 degrees. They require a moist atmosphere, overhead syringing and shade, and should not be over potted. Plants may also be raised from full-matured leaves rooted in fibre, though this method takes time. Compost: equal parts leaf-mould, loam, and sand.
 

Hedgehog Cactus

Cacti of the Echinopsis family may be recommended as especially suitable for cultivation by the amateur. They require little room, produce beautiful flowers very freely, and are easily cultivated even in an unheated greenhouse. Young growing plants require re-potting annually in spring, and older plants every three or four years. Compost: sandy loam two parts, coarse sand and brick rubble one part. Pots should be well drained, and set in sunny place. Water about once a month from September to April, and about once a week afterwards. Stem cuttings will root in sandy soil.