June S, VM7 



HORTICULTURE 



(45 



American Rhododendrons 



OVERPLANTTNG OF 1!. MAXIMDil 



While in the United States last 

 autumn, on a business trip. I visited 

 a number of nurseries, and also a 

 a eonsiderable variety of private 

 and public gardens. L have nat- 

 urally been very interested in the 

 use of the plant with which I am 

 Jiiost closely associated, viz., the 

 rliododendron. I was i>articularly 

 struck with the large quantities of 

 the native variet}-, R. maximum, 

 that are being planted, and it has 

 occurred to me to ask if this is 

 altogether a wise step. The great 

 <|uestion in front of the man plant- 

 ing rhododendrons is, of course, 

 that of hardiness, and without doubt 

 the variety maximum has much to 

 recommend it in this respect, but 

 on the other hand it has been amply 

 demonstrated that certain of the 

 hybrids, and more particularly those 

 which have their origin either from 

 catawbiense or maximum are, if 

 planted with a due regard to certain 

 conditions, of sutticient hardiness to warrant their use, 

 and, while not condemning maximum, it must be 

 liorne in mind that the latter has practically only 

 one shade of color, and if used indiscriminately, is 

 likely to become as monotonous as the Rliododen- 

 dron ponticum in England, which really, except in 

 isolated cases, has only the merit of cheapness to 

 recommend it, and, where used without the addi- 

 tion of the hybrids giving color, is of no advan- 

 tage whatever in garden etl:ect. It is this point which 

 strikes me so much in many American gardens, which 

 J have seen — the use of Rhododendron maximum ex- 

 clusively, where such splendid effects of color could be 

 got with the addition of a certain number of hybrids in 

 groups. 



SELKCTING A FAVOT;.\BLE POSITION 



In America where the climatic conditions are much 

 more in extremis than in England, it is apparent that 

 _s;reat care must he taken in selecting a position suitable 



Rhododeiidroa Gomer Waterer. 



Fiolfl CultuL-f of Rhododendrons. 



for rhododendrons, and in my ojjinion it should be 

 chosen so that, always bearing in mind to avoid expos- 

 ure to wind, and more partieiilarly to draughts of any 

 kind, they should have a northern aspect. This may 

 seem contradictory for any shrub which may be classed 

 as delicate, but my experience tells me that when given 

 a northern evposure, the tendency is for the plant to 

 remain for a longer period in a clormant condition, in 

 which state the rliododendron and many other shruli.- 

 are perfectly hardv and will not suffer so much as when 

 planted in a warm situation which induces a rising of 

 the sap and an inclination to precocious growth before 

 the night temperatures have ceased to be nearly as low 

 as in midwinter. Again, a position which ensures 

 shade, not. however, too dense, should be chosen, and 

 in any case the eai-ly moniing sun must be avoided as 

 the beds of rhododendrons, when subjected to a low 

 temperature of the air and with the sun melting one 

 side of the bed while the other remains frozen, are very 

 perishable and, even if the foliage 

 of the plants remains ■ uninjured 

 under these conditions, the flower 

 will be lost and consequently they 

 will l)ave no greater value than any 

 ntlier evergreen. 



Another point which it is most 

 desirable to emphasize is that, nat- 

 really. the rhododendron is an un- 

 dergrowth as a general rule, and 

 subsists not only on its own decay- 

 ing foliage, but on other vegetable 

 i''fuse such as the foliage of forest 

 t rees, and consequently in garden 

 ii^e proper care should be taken in 

 the first place to see that it has such 

 fijod as peat or leaf mould or some 

 nood (Ibroii? matter to subsist on 

 in accordance with natural con- 

 ditions; and, secondly, that when 

 established, such food should be 

 supplied to plants from time to 



