The Evergreen Rhododendrons 



the leaves, which at first all stood up closely side by 

 side, lay themselves back and spread their faces to 

 the sunshine. Their texture is hard and their juices 

 astringent and no animal will browse on them, nor 

 will even rabbits attack them. Decoctions of them, 

 however, have been used for medicinal purposes. 



Azaleas are classed by botanists among the Rhodo- 

 dendrons and carry the same generic name, but 

 gardeners prefer to keep the two separate and retain 

 the latter name for the evergreen shrubs of laurel-like 

 foliage, and to confine the name Azalea to those shrubs 

 of very similar character which lose their foliage in 

 the winter. The early part of June is the time to see 

 Rhododendrons in their fullest beauty. 



Soil and Cultivation. Sandy peat enriched with a 

 little manure or decayed leaves is the Rhododendrons' 

 ideal soil, but they will grow in soil of considerable 

 variation of composition, so long as there is no lime 

 in it. Lime they will not tolerate. 



They require little pruning ; any cutting should be 

 done in February. 



Rhododendrons that are pure-bred species may be 

 grown (in April or May) from seed, which, being very 

 minute, should be scattered on fine peat and sand and 

 covered with a very little sand. The seeds germinate 

 in a few weeks, and can then be pricked out into pans 

 and placed in a frame. 



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