Petersburg, which, probably, is the cause of an account of it never having been 

 pu1)lishecl. 



The annual burning of the forests in which it grows usually destroys it, so that 

 it is extremely diOicult to find a specimen of it. Some four or five years since, 

 however, S. McDowell, Esq., of Franklin, Macon County, Xorth Carolina, re- 

 discovered this truly gorgeous plant, and for a year or two past has been engaged 

 in propagatiug them, by removing the plants to his garden near that place. The 

 shrub grows to the height of four or five feet, and is of easy cultivation ; the 

 foliage is larger and more rich than that of the Pontic varieties with which we 

 have compared it ; the panicles of flowers, too, are larger and more brilliant in 

 color. Mr. McDowell sent us a box of the flowers in June, which we compared 

 with those of Ponticum, which we fortunately then had in bloom, and which were 

 inferior to it in all respects. The foliage also differs from it, being larger and 

 heavier, having golden yellow footstalks and midrib, the peduncles to the flowers 

 being likewise of the same color, whilst those of Ponticum are green ; the under- 

 surface of the leaves are nearly white and of a velvety texture, differing from 

 E.. Maximum and K.. Catawbiense in not becoming ferruginous. No native 

 American flower can exceed it in habit and beauty, and it must become a popular 

 acquisition to the shrubbery and flower garden, being sufficiently hardy to endure 

 any climate. Its color is a bright crimson approaching towards scarlet ; the 

 panicles are composed of a large number of flowers, from twenty to thirty, form- 

 ing a conical mass nearly as large as a man's head ; the contrast between these 

 and its dark-green foliage is very rich and magnificent, and can only be conceived 

 of by being seen. 



The labors of Mr. McDowell have been both arduous and unremitting in trans- 

 ferring these plants to his grounds, as they have only been found on the tops of 

 the highest and most inaccessible mountains, the only approach being on foot ; 

 he has employed men to bring them some six or seven miles on their shoulders, it 

 being the only mode of conveyance practicable. Specimens of flowers and leaves 

 have been sent to many of our most celebrated botanists and cultivators of Rhodo- 

 dendrons, and, as yet, all have failed to identify it with any previously known, and 

 it will probably prove to be a new species. 



We hope the industry and labors of Mr. McDowell may meet with a suitable 

 reward in the sale of his noble plant ; and those who procure them, we will guar- 

 antee, will never regret having done so. 



J. VAN BUREN. 

 Claeksville, Ga., August, 1855. 



N. B. — The drawing I send you is a fac simile of a medium sized panicle of 

 flowers sent me bv Mr. McDowell. — J. Y. B. 



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