260 



TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[SePTEiMBER, 



a mere enumeration of the species, from Loudon's 

 Arboretum, more information can be obtained 

 from any nurseryman's catalogue. After nearly 

 half a century of experiments in hybridization, 

 the grand results of which you have given in 

 your notices, and the details of many of which 

 have been published, it would seem that an in- 

 structive and very valuable paper might be pre- 

 pared, showing the gradual progress made in the 

 improvement of this truly regal shrub. It would 

 be a great incentive and encouragement to fol- 

 low up this advancement, at the same time 

 adapting them to our more severe climate. 



It is really astounding to find that the Rhodo- 

 dendron, Azalea and Kalmia are so little known. 

 At least one-half of the many hundreds of visit- 

 ors who have come to look at our collection, 

 just going out of bloom, did not know " which 

 was which ;" the Azaleas and Rhododendrons 

 being in bloom afthe same time, and the Kal- 

 mias also, for about a week before the former 

 were gone. Our reply was that the shrubs with 

 the large evergreen-looking foliage were the 

 Rhododendrons, and the small-leaved ones the 

 Azaleas, or sometimes that those with the yel- 

 low, orange, salmon, buff or scarlet flowers were 

 the Azaleas ; and quite a number made the re- 

 mark that the Kalmias looked a great deal like 

 the Laurels that grow wild in some parts of the 

 State ! 



The predominating "sap," as you term it, of 

 the R. ponticum and arboreutn, in most of the 

 splendid varieties so far produced, precludes 

 their cultivation in our climate north of Wash- 

 ington, and it illustrates the fallacy of what is 

 termed "acclimatization," for with the intermix- 

 ture even of the "sap " of arboreum in the fourth 

 and fifth generations, the tender character of the 

 Asiatic species still continues to crop out, and 

 although the plants rarely die, their foliage is 

 disfigured, and the flower buds partially or 

 wholly destroyed by our severe winters. Unfor- 

 tunately this is not generally known. The Eng- 

 lish and Belgian catalogues describe them as 

 hardy, as they are in their climate, and the bril- 

 liancy of the colors as compared with Catawbiense 

 is so charmingly beautiful that a choice selec- 

 tion is made accordingly. The plants arp im- 

 ported, and planted out with all due care, but 

 at the end of two or three years nothing is left 

 but the stock upon which these superb kinds 

 are grafted. 



Twenty-five years ago, when the late Mr. 

 Standish first began the hybridization of Rhodo- 



dendrons, and raised that beautiful variety, 

 Minnie, with others which were said to be very 

 hardy, I imported ten of the best seedlings, two 

 plants of each, but up to this time they have 

 never produced a single flower, and only two or 

 three are alive ; these grow up every year a foot 

 or two high, and are killed down again by the 

 winter; and just ten years ago (1866) we im- 

 ported one hundred of the hardy varieties from 

 Belgium, including Lord Cl^'de, Minnie, Baron 

 Osy, Mooreaenum, and other fine sorts. The 

 first year, while small, they were wintered by 

 placing a frame over them, filling in with dry 

 leaves, and covered with sashes. They kept well 

 and flowered, but soon grew too tall to be cov- 

 ered. We then planted them out, to give them 

 a trial, in our Rhododendron bed : now we have 

 not even one left. 



In time I don't doubt we shall obtain very 

 dark-colored Rhododendrons perfectly hardy, 

 but all the experiments so far show how difficult 

 js the work. The Indian blood which carries 

 color also carries with it a perfect bar to hardi- 

 hood of white, blush, pink, rose, rosy lilac, rosy 

 purple, and rosy crimson. We have as fine 

 hardy sorts as can be desired ; but of fancy 

 colors, and deep red and crimson colors, we have 

 none. It is to the production of the latter that 

 the efforts of our hybridizers should be directed. 



Forty years' experience in the cultivation and 

 production of Rhododendrons and Azaleas has 

 enabled us to learn something of their character. 

 Under the right treatment no plants grow more 

 freely, none transplant more safely, few require 

 less care, and none give so grand a display of 

 blossoms.- Many of our specimens, now forty 

 years old, have been transplanted but once ; oAe 

 twelve feet high and twelve broad, and producing 

 every year thousands of flowers. Some seasons 

 the bloom is more abundant than others, but out 

 of an acre of Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Kal- 

 mias we have never known a plant to be seri- 

 ously injured. This year the snap of bloom has 

 been simply magnificent. 



I regret that I could not find the time to visit 

 the Centennial, and see the great display of Mr. 

 Waterer, as well as those of the Messrs. Parsons. 

 It was no little labor to bring 1500 plants across 

 the Atlantic, and the thanks^ of all lovers of 

 beautiful shrubs are due to him for his commen- 

 dable eff'orts to place before the American people 

 these superb varieties, the parents of which 

 cover the mountain regions not many miles 

 from Philadelphia. 



