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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



anv of the older lands in such formal matters as these. 



It would help considerably if on estates where a num- 

 ber of men are kept, in addition to comfortable living 

 quarters, a small library with horticultural and other 

 works and some weekly periodicals were provided. I 

 am glad this is done on some estates, others might profit- 

 ably do likewise, the expense would not be great and 

 such allowances would be appreciated. 



I have referred to some of the drawbacks and dis- 

 couragements which confront the professional gardener, 

 and can you name any calling which requires a greater 

 amount of care and forethought than gardening? The 

 man who possesses a good knowledge of the culture of 

 plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables under glass and 

 outdoors, pruning, propagation, road making, lawn 

 tennis and other forms of construction, tree surgery and 

 how to fight numerous insect pests and diseases, and who 

 can plan and plant shrubberies, flower, rock, wild and 

 aquatic gardens and often more artistically than the 

 highly paid landscape architects, must have skill of no 

 mean degree, and often when as in an increasing num- 

 ber of cases he successfully cares for horses, cattle, sheep 

 and poultry and houses hay, silage, ice, cereal and other 

 crops, and in addition oversees the plumbing, painting, 

 heating, lighting, carpentry and general construction 

 work on a private estate. I believe we are all ready to 

 admit that such a man merits a good salary, a much bet- 

 ter one than he, in the majority of instances, receives 

 today. 



The serious question confronting us today is, where 

 are the gardeners of the future to come from ? All ad- 

 vices from abroad indicate that the great estates as a 

 result of the war are employing far fewer men, also that 

 few youths are entering the profession owing to superior 

 financial inducements in other industries. Personally I 

 have tried young agricultural college men and high 

 school boys, but it has proved rather discouraging work. 

 Boys were helpful the past two or three years, but alas I 

 they who have seen the cities think gardening is prosaic, 

 dull and uninteresting. A back to the land movement 

 is necessary and is bound to come sooner or later, and 

 if the professional gardeners, the National Association 

 of Gardeners and your esteemed garden clubs co-operate, 

 we will surely find some solution. 



Horticulture has made good advances here of late 

 years, and for the tired city man, manufacturer or mer- 

 chant what is there in the world so fascinating, satis- 

 fying and stimulating as gardening? Shakespeare well 

 said, "This is an art that doth mend Nature, change it 

 rather, but the art itself is Nature." What joy there is 

 to see the first snowdrops, crocus, winter aconites, scillas 

 or Christmas roses unfold their flowers as the sun melts 

 the last lingering snow covering them ! . What delights 

 are ours as the procession of floral beauties unfold them- 

 selves before our eyes through Spring. Summer and 

 Autumn until even when "Chill November's surly blasts 

 make fields and forests bare" there are still in sheltered 

 spots Japanese anenomes and pompon chrysanthemums, 

 dianthus, pansies, roses, and other hardy sulijects with 

 a secondary crop of flowers or some deciduous shrubs 

 to cheer our hearts, and the added assurance that even 

 though snow and ice may bury our beloved plants, they 

 will grow, bloom and cheer us again in Cod's good 

 season. 



In this way do I look upon gardening as do many of 

 my fellow gardeners, and I feel positive that the nearer 

 we all get to Nature the richer our lives will be and the 

 better you will appreciate the true worth of the pro- 

 fessional gardener. I hope 1 have not wearied you. I 

 have spoken plainly jusl as my lieart feels. If 1 have 



seemed somewhat pessimistic I am still a thorough op- 

 timist and hope I have given you a little insight of the 

 drawbacks, discouragements, hopes and aspirations of 

 the oldest, most honorable and most elevating of all call- 

 ings, that of the true gardener, 



(Address before Garden Club of America at its an- 

 nua! meeting. Colony Club, A'rw York, March 17.) 



THE RHODODENDRON 



THE Rhododendron is admittedly the queen of 

 hardy-flowering shrubs. During its main flower- 

 season, late Spring and early Summer, it is one of 

 the most brilliant and gorgeous of all flowering 

 shrubs. It is, perhaps, seen to its best advantage when 

 grown in huge colonies, as in the larger private gardens 

 of the country. But even a single specimen is not to be 

 despised when in bloom, whether grown in the mixed 

 shrubbery, on the lawn, or in a tub. 



Rhododendrons have a decided partiality for a 

 peaty soil, or one containing plenty of humus. But 

 peat is not an absolute necessity for growing these 

 plants. They will thrive in a good, deep, well-drained 

 loam or medium texture. Clay soils are too cold and 

 damp to suit their requirements, and very light or 

 sandy soils are by no means congenial for rhododen- 

 dron culture. In the latter case plenty of leaf-mould 

 and decayed cow manure is essential for ensuring 

 healthy growth. Then, again, rhododendrons will not 

 tolerate the presence of lime or chalk, so that it is 

 quite useless to attempt to grow them in soils of a 

 limy or chalky nature. It is advisable to prepare the 

 soil thoroughly beforehand. For a single plant dig 

 out the soil 2 ft. deep and 3 ft. wide, and if it be of a 

 heavy nature, discard it, and fill the hole either with 

 peat or with a mixture of loam, leaf-mould, and a little 

 decayed cow manure. Where the soil is naturally a 

 good loam merely trench two feet, and mix leaf-mould 

 and decaj-ed manure with it. 



The Rhododendron is a compact rooting plant, and 

 hence is more readily and safely moved than other 

 shrubs. Plants have been successfully transplanted 

 even when in flower, so that no one need hesitate to 

 plant in May. The roots must be protected by hay or 

 mats or sacking during the transit from the nursery, 

 and directly after planting a good soaking of water 

 must be given, and the foliage syringed every evening. 

 Once established give the bed a mulching of decayed 

 manure every May and an occasional application of 

 weak liquid manure. Rhododendrons, moreover, must 

 never be allowed to get dry at the roots, therefore 

 water freely in dry weather. Make a practice, too. 

 of removing the spent flowers to prevent seed forma- 

 tion. Rhododendrons do not, as a rule, flower freely 

 every year, but every alternate year. 



Rhododendrons do well grown in tubs 2 to 3 ft. wide 

 and deep. Pots are not so suitable because they are 

 apt to cause the roots near the interior to shrivel and 

 die. Wood keeps uniformly moist, and hence suits the 

 requirements of the roots. Put at least 6 in. of drain- 

 age in each tub. and over this a layer of decayed turf 

 or peat, and then fill up with a compost of equal parts 

 turfy loam. peat, leaf-mould, and coarse silver sand. 

 Plant firmly. Plant any time in Spring. Great care 

 must be taken to keep the soil uniformly moist, and 

 when established weak liquid manure mav be given 

 once a week from May to September. The plants 

 may be left in the open, no protection being neces- 

 sarv. 



