63 A Day among' the Rhododendrons. 



feet in diameter, and clothed with flowers and foliage to the ground ! One 

 such plant would be worth more than a hundred of the bare, lean, strag- 

 gling stems too often shown. 



The collection comprises about fifty varieties, of every color, from white, 

 through pink, rose, lilac, scarlet, crimson, and purple, to nearly blue. In 

 regard to hardiness, it is difficult to say what varieties are best, as some- 

 times those which come through one winter unharmed will be injured the 

 next, and 7'ice versa ; but Mr. Harris favored us with the following list, 

 which he regards as combining all the most desirable properties, including 

 uniform hardiness, with variety of color ; viz., purpureum grandijlorum, 

 Archim'dss {sczrXQt), Evsreslijn'im (rose), alburn grandijlorum, rosmm mag- 

 num, Pardoloton, and chancellor. 



The collection of azaleas, though less extensive than that of rhododen- 

 drons, was perfectly gorgeous ; indeed almost too dazzling. There were 

 between thirty and forty varieties, white, buff, pink, yellow, orange, flame, 

 of every shade and combination, the best of which are sulphurca, atroruhens 

 nova (dark red), rosea lineata (striped rose), magnifica albicans (white), 

 aurantiaca splendida, delicata nova, rosea formosissimus, and nobilis, the 

 last yellow and a strong grower. 



Although the rhododendrons and azaleas were the special attraction to 

 us, the other objects of interest were not unnoticed. The preparation of 

 the soil and the planting having been done in the most thorough manner, 

 the trees show a vigor and depth of verdure seldom seen ; the white pines 

 being of almost as dark a green as the Austrian. Among all the rare and 

 beautiful trees collected here, we think there is not one to surpass our native 

 hemlock. What can be more lovely than the masses or single specimens 

 of this tree, with its feathery foliage ; at this season the pale green of the 

 young shoots contrasting with the dark shade of the old branches, and 

 the budding cones showing their delicate purple tints ? As to the lawn, 

 we may say in one word, that it is perfect. 



Among other new trees which Mr. Harris pointed out was a new 



larch, the seed of which was received from Japan. The habit of growth 



resembles the European larch, while the foliage has the bluish-green color 



of the American species, but is much longer and more dense than either. 



We noticed also the Pinus ponderosa and Pinus Benthamiana, described 



