the base is examined, it may be found that there are a couple of Positions 



buds seated on the top of the flower stem, nestling, so to say, suitable for 



under the truss. It is important that these should not be injured, Planting 



especially if there be a paucity of new growths, because they T? noc loden- 



represent the successional shoots and flowering wood of the j 



following year ; and unfortunately they are very easily 



injured by a careless or uninformed operator. The decaying 



trusses should be firmly grasped between fingers and thumb, and 



broken off, not over, but between, the buds, which then run no 



risk of injury. The prevention of seeding, which follows on 



the removal of fading flowers, relieves the plant of a heavy 



potential strain, and permits it to proceed unhampered with its 



task of developing fresh flowering growths. It is a somewhat 



tedious task, but it is well repaid, for plants thus dressed after 



blooming yield much finer trusses than those left to nature. 



Much attention is rightly being devoted to the disposition 

 of the plants in ways which give bold effects and fine colour 

 contrasts or harmonies, but the practical point of shelter should 

 never be lost sight of. It is often desired to set a fine variety, 

 Pink Pearl for example, in an isolated position, for the sake of 

 individual effect ; but if the site be exposed to cutting winds, or 

 very hot, the project may be a failure. The word " hardiness " 

 ought to be used in a limited sense in connection with Rhodo- 

 dendrons. They are hardy (or at least a considerable number 

 are), in the sense of resisting frost, but they do not like bleak 

 places positions where they are worried by gales. They 

 ought to have the shelter of belts of trees or coarser shrubs, the 

 former for preference, because, in addition to breaking the wind, 

 trees hold off fierce sunheat if properly placed. This must not 

 be read as a recommendation of dense shade. Rhododendrons 



