242 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



Kinds suitable for the rock-garden : Few dwarf-growing Rhododen- 

 drons are more delightful than R, racemosum, from Central China. It 

 is a gem for the rock-garden as well as for edgings to beds planted with low- 

 growing shrubs. The small pale pink flowers are in terminal clusters, and 

 appear in early spring. It is a splendid addition to shrubs suitable for 

 forcing into bloom for the conservatory. R. hirsutum, from Southern 

 Europe, and its white-flowered variety, are distinct and pretty. R. ferru- 

 gineum (Alpine Rose) is a dainty compact species with an abundance of 

 pink flowers in terminal clusters. 



A few choice hybrids and varieties : A beginner does not require 

 many kinds, and these are : Kewense grows vigorously, and bears large 

 loose trusses of the most delicate pink flowers imaginable. Pink Pearl 

 is another recently-introduced kind and certainly one of the most meri- 

 torious. It is exceptionally free and has large substantial pink flowers 

 in huge trusses. Pr&cox is particularly welcome in early spring. It 

 is dwarf, neat, and its rose-coloured flowers are produced in great 

 profusion in February and March, but it is rather tender. Early 

 Gem flowers about the same time. Its rosy-lilac flowers are distinct and 

 beautiful. These last two named kinds are splendid for greenhouse 

 decoration in winter, and Cunningham's White is a charming variety for 

 the same purpose ; flowers white with a few dark spots. Manglesii is 

 hardy in the neighbourhood of London. Its large white flowers with 

 brown spots are borne in immense trusses. 



Fortune! Hybrids. These are hardy, of free growth, and remark- 

 ably pretty. The flowers of each of the varieties mentioned below re- 

 semble those of the parent in shape R. Fortunei, one of the most 

 exquisite of hardy species and the colours are of different shades of 

 pink and rose. Duke of York, Mrs. W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Luscombei, 

 and Profusion, are a few of the best. 



The hardy Azaleas or Rhododendrons, as they are called, should be 

 planted in all gardens of sufficient size. In spring the tier-like growth is 

 smothered with flowers, of spicy fragrance, and in autumn the leaves 

 turn to resplendent colours. The bush spreads out, and in time covers 

 much ground. Owing to their early flowering give shelter from east 

 and north-east winds ; they are not tender in themselves, but late frosts 

 hurt the flowers. Mr. Anthony Waterer, of Knaphill, Woking, has 

 raised a glorious series, the colours of wonderful richness and variety 

 white, crimson, scarlet, orange, yellow, pink, buff and this new race is 

 in every way an advance upon the older forms. It is important to 

 group Rhododendrons carefully so as to avoid unpleasant colour contrasts. 

 It is very easy to go wrong, as, for instance, a flower that among shades 

 of rosy amaranth may look a pure pink, if removed from their neighbour- 

 hood and put beside a pure pink, that is seen among white or scarlet rose, 

 will be found to be quite out of harmony. This width of colour-range 

 will also enable the buyer to choose the combination that best pleases 

 his eye whether of clear pink with white and rosy scarlet, of the few 

 shades that incline to salmon-rose, of the strong and very numerous 

 amaranths, or the cool purples which go best with the clear whites and 

 whites tinged with purple. It should be remembered that it is always 



