JX^GcCs and Gleanings. loi 



Rhododendrons on Limestone Soils. — In looking over the Journal of 

 Horticulture for December, I was much pleased with the excellent article on the 

 Rhododendron, by S. B. Parsons, of Flushing, N. Y. There are, however, a few 

 sentences of Mr. Parsons's which might need correction. He says, speaking of 

 the rhododendron, " They grow as surely and as freely as a willow, wherever a 

 lilac will, unless limestone soils should prove an exception." 



Now, Mr. Editor, let me say, for the benefit of those persons \\\\o live in lime- 

 stone districts, who might be deterred from planting by Mr. Parsons's remarks, 

 that limestone soil is not an insurmountable barrier to the successful cultivation 

 of this most superb shrub. I live in a limestone district myself, and have the 

 rhododendron growing thriftily. All that is essential to be done in limestone 

 soils for the successful culture of this splendid plant is to dig holes thirty inches 

 in diameter, and as many deep, casting out all the soil for that depth, and refill- 

 ing with leaf mould soil from the woods, taking care not to go deep enough to 

 reach the lime. My own borders are composed as follows : two thirds leaf 

 mould from the woods, one third rotten sod composted two years, top sod with a 

 smart sprinkle of brush cut up, and all intermixed as I fill in, using a post 

 stamper to settle the contents as the hole is filled up. Raise the compost four 

 inches higher than the surface soil, so as to allow for settling, and plant in the 

 centre of the prepared borders. 



I keep my j^lants mulched with leaves from the woods, summer and winter. 

 They are very thrifty, and have bloomed several times well, and they are now 

 looking finely, and are loaded with blossom buds. I have one plant of the new 

 English variety, H. W. Sargent, which Mr. Hunnewell, near Boston, described 

 in a former number of the Horticulturist, if I mistake not. Plis description of it 

 was this : " That variety will be in demand in England for a thousand years to 

 come." It promises well here, but has not yet bloomed. 



Only a short time since, in conversation with a gentleman of eminence in re- 

 gard to the successful culture of the rhododendron, he remarked it was of no use 

 to attempt it on limestone soils. I assured him to the contrary. I now write 

 for the benefit of those similarly situated, to show them how the difiiculty can be 

 overcome. 



My first and second attempt with single plants on limestone soil, good enough 

 otherwise, was wholly unsuccessful. I now have eight varieties growing thrift- 

 ily, without any protection from sun or cold. E. Manning. 



Harrisburg, Franklin Co., Ohio, December 27, 1869. 



Ripe Strawberries were picked in the open fields of Oregon on the 5th of 

 December last. 



Last Year's Peanut Crop in Virginia amounted to five hundred thousand 

 bushels — a little less than the average. 



Olives and Cork Oaks. — The olive is cultivated in Georgia and on the 

 coast islands of Georgia, and cork trees are successfully grown in North Car- 

 olina. 



