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green foliage render them still more liable to depredation in 

 all unprotected localities where they grow wild. Their showy 

 trusses of flowers open from June to July, maturing their anthers 

 before their stigmas, and bending them upward, so that any 

 insect visiting the flower for its nectar will be dusted by the 

 pollen. By this means cross fertilization is accomplished. One 

 of the lobes of the corolla is spotted and the necter is secreted at 

 the base of the lobe, so that the markings are recognized as 

 insect-giiides. In this way many natural variations have been 

 produced. About 350 species of Rhododendron are known to 

 occur in the colder temperate regions of the northern hemis- 

 phere, 16 of which, if we include the Azalea, have been de- 

 scribed from North America. All prefer a sour soil and leaf mold 

 and should be heavily mulched with rotten leaves, as they detest 

 raw manure. They also like a cool, moist climate and partial 

 shade when they attain their best growth. 



A beautiful illustrated book on the Rhododendron by J, G. 

 Millais has recently been published in England, and some of 

 the colored illustrations of English gardens show the perfection 

 to which these shrubs attain in that moist temperate climate. 

 Many beautiful species and showy hybrids are described and 

 figured in colors, which have originated either from crossing 

 the Indian {R. arhoreum) and the North American species or 

 are 2d or 3rd crosses whose records have been lost. Species 

 from Java and those recently discovered from China promise 

 still greater choice of color and form for the future. Some few 

 of the species are epiphytic and still otliers in the alpine regions 

 of Western China are dwarfs and take the place of heaths in 

 other countries. Still others are too tender to be grown except 

 in green-houses. Some few of the evergreen species are fragrant 

 and most of the azaleas have this added charm. Perhaps the 

 new restrictions against importing these beautiful plants may 

 encourage our own students and horticulturists to try experi- 

 ments in crossing, which will add new treasures to this already 

 rich and sumptuous genus. The accompanying illustration is 

 of a plant grown at the New York Botanical Garden. 



E. G. Brixton 



