CHAP. LXIXx. ERICA‘CEZ. RHODODE’NDRON.. — 1133 
ornamental shrub, not only in open situations, but, on a large scale, in woods, 
to serve as undergrowth, and as a shelter for game. Professor Henslow, in a 
communication to the Magazine of Natural History, vol. ix. p.476., mentions 
that he had seen some crystals of a substance resembling sugarcandy, which 
were found in the decaying flowers of the 2. pénticum. The syrup, which 
afterwards hardened into these crystals, always exuded “ from the upper sur- 
face of the thickened base upon which the ovary is seated, and apparently 
from a minute glandular spot placed between the sinus formed by the two 
upper teeth of the calyx.” The plant was in a morbid state, and the crystals 
were found more particularly within some of the flowers that had withered 
without fully expanding. In the Bulletin Universel, R. p6nticum is stated to 
contain some grains of common sugar, of a pure white colour, on the surface 
of the upper division of the corolla. 
Soil, Situation, §c. It will grow in almost any soil; but, in England, it seems 
to thrive best in sandy peat, or deep sandy loam. In the common manured 
earth of gardens it succeeds worse than in unmanured loams of a close tex- 
ture, even strong clays, particularly if the latter be kept moist. The want of 
tenacity of the manured garden soil alluded to, more especially in a dry 
season, seems not to allow it to cohere sufficiently to the small hair-like roots 
of this order of plants, to enable their very minute spongioles to imbibe nou- 
rishment from it. 
Propagation. All the rhododendrons may be propagated by cuttings of the 
young shoots, taken off in a growing state, when their lower ends have begun 
to ripen, and planted in pure sand, and covered with a bell-glass; but, in 
general, this mode is only worth adopting in the case of new and rare sorts. 
By layers, also, is a common mode with sorts which do not seed freely, or 
with particular varieties: but by far the most general method practised in 
gardens is by seeds, These are produced in abundance in this country ; and 
they are also received from America. They are ripe in August and Sep- 
tember ; and, though they will retain their vegetative properties for upwards of 
a year, and some of them for several years, it is considered safest to sow 
them soon after they are gathered. The seeds should be sown in peat soil, or 
very fine sandy loam, in a shady border, or in pots; and treated as re- 
commended at the head of this section. 
Culture. After seedling plants have been a year in pots, or in the seed-bed, 
they are transplanted into nursery lines, and removed every year, or every 
second year, and placed at greater distances, till they have attained the size 
at which it is considered desirable to sell them, or to plant them where they 
are finally to remain. At whatever age or size they are removed from the 
nursery, they require, in common with all hair-rooted plants, to have a small 
ball of soil attached to their roots, and to have these carefully protected 
from drought by mats. In consequence of almost all the rhododendrons 
and azaleas being removable with balls, they may be transplanted at any 
season of the year, though the autumn and spring are the periods generally 
made choice of. In consequence, also, of peat soil readily adhering to the 
fibrils of this genus, and, indeed, of all the Ericacez, it becomes less necessary 
to grow them in pots for the convenience of removal, than is the case with 
most other rare and valuable trees and shrubs: for example, the Magnolidcee. 
In some of the English nurseries, plants of Rhododéndron pénticum are trained 
with single stems, to the height of 4 ft. or 5 ft., before they are suffered to 
branch off; and, so treated, they make very handsome small trees. 
Statistics. In the environs of London, some of the largest rhododendrons are in the arboretum 
at Kew, where they are nearly 12 ft. high. In the woods at Kenwood, there are also several of this 
height. At Wimbledon House, there is a bush, which, in 1834, was 33 ft. in diameter. In Hamp- 
shire, at Cuffnells, there is one which, in 1834, was 15 ft. high, and the branches covered a space 
39 ft. in diameter. In Bedfordshire, at Woburn Abbey, in dry sand, without any bog or other ar- 
tificial soil, a plant, 20 years planted, in 1835 formed a bush 28 ft. in diameter. In Derbyshire, at 
Shipley Hall, there is a Rhododéndron pénticum, which, in 1835, was 16 ft. high, the branches of 
which cover a space 56 ft. in diameter. In Scotland, at Minard, in Argyllshire, there is a plant 8 ft. 
high, which covers a space 20 ft. in circumference. In Ireland, at Oriel Temple, near Dublin, one, 
60 years planted, was, in 1834, 16 ft. high, and covered a space 38 ft. in diameter, At Morn Park, 
near Cork, there is a plant which, in 10 years, is 93 ft. high, and the space covered by the branches 
is 22 ft.Gin. indiameter. At Castle Freke, in the same county, there is one about the same size. 
