This section is from "The Horticulturist, And Journal Of Rural Art And Rural Taste", by P. Barry, A. J. Downing, J. Jay Smith, Peter B. Mead, F. W. Woodward, Henry T. Williams. Also available from Amazon: Horticulturist and Journal of Rural Art and Rural Taste.
The use of Azaleas for window culture in pots has, as yet, not been often referred to by our horticultural writers; yet, the idea is a most pleasant one. What can be more delightful than an entire window filled with thousands of crimson blossoms, from pot after pot, or raised stages toward the top? The only thing necessary in their culture is to provide a suitable soil. The best for this purpose is a mixture of two parts loam, rich, vegetable matter; two parts rotten peat from the swamps; one part sand. Take good care for perfect drainage, and use no manure. These are all the directions necessary. These plants during the winter should be put in the cellar About the beginning of February they may be brought nearer the light, and a few weeks afterward carried up to the window garden. Here they begin to bloom at once, and last about three weeks; some of them six weeks. After they have done blooming they may be removed, and new ones be brought up again from the cellar, and thus the blooming season is extended over several months.
The following is a selected list of those most suitable for window purposes:
Very early.
Rosy purple.
Rose and striped with white.
Rose.
Bright salmon; distinctly spotted.
Rose.
Variegated.
White.
White; very early.
Scarlet; profuse.
Splendid form; rose.
Grande Duchesse de Bode.
White, striped with rose.
Rose; good form.
Variegated.
Vittata crispiflora.
Splendid, variegated.
Early bloomer.
Six weeks in bloom.
Scarlet.
 
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