THE TREE DOCTOR 145 



Photo 127 

 Wistaria over Entrance to Garden. 



About the same place in which you find the Pennsylvania Laurel, 

 in the woods or on the ledges of rock where one would some- 

 times think it could hardly have a chance to live. But here, 

 among the fragments of rocks, covered with decayed leaves, it 

 derives its main support from the moisture condensed in sum- 

 mer by the cooling stones under and among which it rambles 

 with perfect delight. . In planting Rhododendrons avoid heavy 

 clay soils. See, first, that the drainage is good, then use leaf 

 mould and sand ; or light "muck" will take the place of leaf 

 mould. After the plants are set, spread over the surface three or 

 four inches of rough gravel or crushed stone. Through this 

 you can water freely in summer, and develop both plant and 

 tlower buds before fall. Failure to make this provision for get- 

 ting water to the roots results in immature flower buds which are 

 killed by severe "cold spells." The north side of a building is 

 the proper place for them, but if you must put them where the 

 bright sun will strike them in winter cover them with ever- 

 green boughs, cornstalks or something that will shade them, 

 or their leaves will "blister" and the plant be materially injured. 

 Photo 127 shows the pretty effect of the Wistaria trained 

 over the entrance to the vegetable garden. The heavy vine on 

 the end of the barn, shown in Photo 107, is also a Wistaria. 

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