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with sharp thorns ; two of which are at every joint. One of 

 these thorns is straight and upright, the other is bent back- 

 ward. Hanbury says, this is undoubtedly the species of 

 which the Crown of Thorns for our Saviour was composed. 

 It grows naturally about Jerusalem, and in many parts of 

 Juclea. It is on this account more particularly that it has 

 been introduced to the gardens of the curious. 



Rose Bay, or Rhododendron. Of this there are numer- 

 ous species, all of which are delightful appendages to the 

 garden several being evergreens, which, for the most part, 

 have fine foliage, and in every case producing beautiful 

 flowers. I shall, however, in this limited work, confine my 

 descriptions to a small number of the most conspicuous. 



Rhododendron fionticum, or Pontic Rose Bay. This has 

 been more extensively cultivated than any other ; its leaves 

 are large and glossy, of an oval form, or pointed, according 

 to the variety ; the flowers are produced in clusters at the 

 ends of the shoots, and, in the common species* are of a fine 

 purple colour : they expand in July, and, taken in connexion 

 with the handsome foliage of this plant, render it one of the 

 most ornamental and desirable shrubs* It flourishes in any 

 good common soil, but, it is said a situation somewhat 

 sandy suits it best. There are about 20 varieties of this spe- 

 cies, which have been obtained by long cultivation, and rear- 

 ing from seeds ; these are of various colours and shades, 

 and are now in the author's establishment in a course of in- 

 crease. 



Rhododendron maximum, or American Rose Bay. This 

 is not unfrequently called the Mountain Laurel, which 

 term is also often applied to the Kalmia latifolia. This is 

 one of the finest species known, and is found growing natu- 

 rally upon the sides of mountains, and in wet swamps of 

 White Cedar, and other trees, where it flourishes beneath 

 the shade of the forest that thickly overhangs it. The leaves 

 are very large and beautiful, and of an oval form ; the 

 flowers are produced about midsummer, in large clusters, 

 at the ends of the shoots* these are very abundant, make a 

 fine show, and continue to flower in succession for a long pe- 

 riod. When planted in gardens and shrubberies, they gene- 

 rally form branching shrubs of about six feet in height, but, 

 in their native wilds, they often rise to 16, and even 20 feet. 

 The most proper situation for planting them, seems to be 

 beneath the shelter of large trees, but they will succeed when 

 placed in an open exposure. I have found a mixture of bog 

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