NEW HAEDY SHRUBS. 71 



half-hardy shrub, with elliptic leaves and large, branched, 

 pyramidal panicles of white flowers. — Flore des Serves. 



Hydrangea Japonica macrosepala. — A variety some- 

 what resembling the rosalba of Van Houtte, but having 

 the segments of the sterile flowers one and one-third inch 

 broad. — Gartenflora. 



Mhododetidrons. — We have several native species of the 

 rhododendron, all of which are beautiful shrubs, and Avell 

 worthy of cultivation. They were, long ago, sent to 

 Europe, where, through the skill of the gardeners of the 

 Old World, hundreds of new varieties have been produced, 

 many of which far excel the original species. There are 

 also many species natives of the Eastern Hemisphere, and 

 new ones are being constantly discovered. Hybrids in 

 great number have also been produced, not only between 

 the diflcrent foreign species, but those of our own country, 

 imtil it is quite certain that no genus of evergreen 

 shrubs can at all compare with the rhododendron for 

 handsome foliage and gorgeous flowers. Many of the 

 foreign varieties and species are not hardy in the Northern 

 States, but there is a sufiicient number to satisfy the 

 most ardent admirer of this class of plants* It requires 

 experience with each kind to determine its character, there- 

 fore one must import many to find a few that are suited to 

 the climate ; and the high price at which all new sorts are 

 sold, prevents the majority of our nurserymen fi'om testing 

 them. There are, however, a few of our larger establish- 

 ments that have expended thousands of dollars in testing 

 the various species and varieties of rhododendrons ; and 

 they now ofler to the public the benefit of their labors in 



