EVERGREEN SHRUBS 127 



best hardy evergreen shrubs are the rhododendrons, and 

 it must be certainly allowed that they are the most pop- 

 alar. It is far from the author's intention to combat 

 this idea, for he, too, would have rhododendrons on every 

 lawn, but it might be well to mention that rhododendrons 

 have a way of dying badly if they are not born of the 

 proper strain. Everestianum is an instance of this 

 hardy strain, displaying fine foliage and purple flowers, 

 with none of that vivid red that betokens a tender tropical 

 breed. Yet there are good red kinds, like H. W. Sargent, 

 but certain reds are, nevertheless, to be feared on ac- 

 count of this hectic flush, which seems to betoken a con- 

 stitution unsuited to stand the strain of the hot sun and 

 sudden cold winds of American springs. There is good 

 reason to believe, reason based on long practical ex- 

 perience, that the rhododendron suffers in winter more 

 because its young wood has not succeeded in ripening 

 properly, being retarded in late summer by droughts, and 

 pushed into new growths by rainy autumns. In view of 

 this highly probable cause, it becomes easily evident that 

 it is always a good plan to grow rhododendrons in strong, 

 yellow loam, unmixed with peat, and in the open sunlight, 

 where the new wood can healthily mature itself. It is 

 no objection to this treatment, moreover, that it tends 

 to develop greater numbers of the splendid flower clus- 

 ters which are, perhaps, not to be surpassed for magnifi- 

 cence by any other bloom of the temperate zone. 



The kalmia latifolia, or mountain laurel of American 

 woods, is an evergreen shrub of the highest excellence, 

 and although not as showy in bloom, it discovers to the 

 observer who will take time to appreciate it a more 

 daintily formed and exquisite flower than that of the 

 rhododendron. The leaves are light green, and not 



