116 orname:ntal gardening. 



which may be secured by mulching them before hot 

 weather comes on. A tem^^erature fifteen degrees below 

 zero, if not too long continued, or too frequent, does not 

 hurt them, provided they have shelter from wdnd and 

 sun, and they may be planted near buildings or trees to 

 receive this. For some further directions in preparation 

 of the soil and their management, see Divisions IV and V. 



The American Rhododendron {R. maximum), also 

 called the Great Laurel, is a native species, and found 

 growing wild from Maine to Ohio, and southward, as a 

 straggling bush, with thick, smooth leaves, and small, 

 green-spotted, rose-colored or wiiite flowers. 



Pontic Rhododen^dron (7^. Ponticum) is an Europe- 

 an species, almost valueless in America, from the liabil- 

 ity of the flower buds to be winter killed. 



The Catawba Rhododendron {R. Cataivhiensis), the 

 Rose Bay of the Southern States, is found growing on the 

 mountains of Virginia and southward. From this 

 species have sprung nearly all the fine hardy hybrids of 

 the gardens. There are many named varieties of these, 

 the colors of wiiich are exceedingly handsome, and vary- 

 ing through pure-white, light-pink, cherry-red, rose, lilac, 

 purple, and brilliant-scarlet, and crimson. There are 

 some other distinct species also, which are of little con- 

 sequence, hence I omit them. 



THE BOX. Buxus. E, H. 



A genus of beautiful evergreens, suitable for lawn dec- 

 oration, and the dwarf varieties for edgings to walks, 

 etc. The trees may be grown to any desirable shape 

 by shearing. Although hardy, they sometimes suffer 

 from sun-scald in winter, and from harsh sweeping 

 winds, but as they do not object to partial shade, by 

 planting them where they will receive this, the first 

 named difficulty is avoided, and shelter from winds is 

 the remedy for the other. 



