THE RHODODENDRON. 87 



The Rhododendron. 



The Rhododendrons are seldom cut back except for 

 layering purposes, when of course it is done annually as 

 the layers are taken off. "While young they may be 

 severely cut back to form healthy dwarf plants, when 

 they are growing in good peat land ; but if they get 

 old and are not growing in suitable soil severe prun- 

 ing, with a view to obtain a new plant, will be all but 

 futile. 



It is true some of the common sorts may be severely 

 cut back if on their own roots ; but cutting back or 

 pruning at all beyond regulating the growth of the 

 plant in the case of the choice sorts which are grafted, 

 and stopping them to form handsome specimens, will 

 be even dangerous. 



Standard Rhododendrons will require stopping while 



the}?- are growing in the same way as the Azalea is 



managed, to induce symmetry of character. But 



whenever either the Rhododendron or the Azalea 



requires this it must be done as soon as it has made an 



inch or two of young growth, and not much afterwards, 



if flowers are to be expected in the next season. 



Sometimes a plant will grow contrary to the formation 



of a symmetrical plant. It will grow too much on one 



side, and not enough on the other. In such a case the 



knife must be used to cut out any unequal and fast 



growth, and to induce a uniform growth all over the 



plant. Symmetry in the character of the plant 



enhances its beauty quite as much as an abundance of 



flower, or even more so. I am sometimes disgusted 



when I see a good specimen spoilt through inequality 



of character, just for want of a little care in the 



early pruning and training. Some people are fearfully 



timid about cutting plants — even professionals are — 



but if they will but study their nature they will get out 



of that, and soon cut with judgment. It is seldom that 



we see good pruning either in regard to fruit trees or 



shrubs among ordinary gardeners, especially the jobbing 



hands. It is not always the gardener's fault, for ama- 



