158 COMMON SENSE GARDENS 



from drying out. In very hot weather towards 

 the end of Summer they should be watered, and a 

 mulch of rotted manure applied during July. If 

 you live in the latitude of New York or northward 

 procure your plants from New England or northern 

 New York. In some localities they are found in 

 profusion and it is easy to transplant large speci- 

 mens. The broad-leaved LAUREL (Kalmia lati- 

 Jolid), a near relation of the Rhododendron, is a 

 valuable shrub, considered by many even superior 

 to the Rhododendron. It is an ideal shrub to have 

 near the house as its form is most attractive and 

 its bloom superb. The Laurel blooms a little later 

 than the Rhododendron, and it is well to combine 

 the two as they look much alike and, when thus 

 used, the blooming season of the clump will be pro- 

 longed. When Rhododendrons are taken from the 

 woods they are apt to be imperfect in conformation, 

 and therefore not as desirable for specimens to use 

 near the house as the nursery grown hybrids that 

 are imported from Holland and England. English 

 Rhododendrons are by far the better grown; among 

 those that are recommended by W. Robinson, the 

 English authority, and which are hardy, are: 



