IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



duce in spring can scarcely be excelled in magnificence, 

 especially where a good collection of contrasting tints has 

 been secured. If the position to be filled be well sheltered 

 from the east winds of our spring, the early flowering 

 varieties of rhododendron will open their blooms from 

 February onwards in such a place, lighting it up with the 

 rich crimson of their flowers ; but for an exposed situation it 

 is wiser to choose late flowering varieties, for these will be 

 safely sheathed in their bud cases until May is over, when 

 they will expand their flowers with impunity. A fine 

 collection of early rhododendrons will include Nobleanum 

 (a dwarf plant flowering in February), R. mirabile, a very 

 fine flower in bright pink ; Prince Camille de Rohan, 

 French white, with a crimson centre ; R. Mrs. R. S. Hoi- 

 ford, salmon-pink ; R. limbatum, in white, edged with 

 crimson ; and W. H. Foster, with carmine flowers of great 

 beauty ; but where later blooming varieties are needed, 

 R. Gauntletti, a magnificent flower in pale pink ; R. Scarlet 

 King, perhaps the most brilliant of all in this tint ; R. 

 Helene Schiffner, in pure white : R. John Waterer, a deep 

 crimson flower ; R. Mrs. Frederick Hankey, salmon- 

 red, spotted with maroon ; and R. Pink Pearl (one of the 

 loveliest of them all) may be selected as amongst the finest 

 possible varieties. Rhododendrons can be grown in ordinary 

 good loam mixed with a liberal allowance of half-rotted 

 leaves, although where peat can be procured this material 

 should also be added. They do not root very deeply, so 

 that 1 8 inches of their special soil is all that is needed ; but 

 they should receive a considerable mulch of old hot-bed 

 material (or decayed leaves and manure in equal proportions) 

 yearly in March, laying this around their stems so far as to 

 cover the space shaded by their foliage. Azalea mollis and 

 its beautiful double hybrids (Ghent azaleas) are all quite 

 hardy, too, and may be used as a border to a group of 

 rhododendrons with great advantage, for their richly-tinted 

 blossoms are most effective in the garden, as well as in the 

 conservatory or the cool porch. 



Spiraeas, which are deciduous, and have slender stems, 



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