1516 



RHODE ISLAND 



RHODODENDRON 



havm^ curious distinct purpli h red fl o'ver 2 in 

 lonfe I n rid peduncles hs about J in long BM ^367 

 B K -1 1/do I H 42 31 -Blooms the first season from 

 seed -ind m ij be treated as a tender annual 



F \\ Bahcla\ 



EHODODfiNDEON (Greek thndm auddenili ^„ rose 



ti Hh 111 t the beiutitul tlower md the habit 



th II 1 I 1 li n Lf the dncient -niitei i Niiium) 



/ Hi lii\ orndiiieutdl e\tr-,ieeii hiul tr 



fo 



Ki 



state nearl\ e\er\ \ llage lot hi uga fe^ tiee of the 

 more popular ^al etie Theie are several mall com 

 mercial orchar 1 tl e jrin ipal vanetie jrol iced being 

 the Bartlett Bo c Clapp Lawrence an 1 Shel Ion 



Strawberries are produced in abundance m those 

 towns bordering upon the eastern shore of Narragansett 

 Baj where they are the principal horticultural crop 

 The majority of the growers use the wide matted row 

 Some however use a very nariow row or the hill sy 

 tem This is i profitable crop t a'^ow as according to 

 the 189a State Census the aveiage price received was 

 9% cents per quart 



Currants gooseberries and raspberries are grown m 

 limited quantities mostlv for home con umption The 

 demand for these fruits is alwa\s greater than the sup 

 ply so that the i rices obtained are always remunerative 



In Pro% idenee and Washington counties considerable 

 attenti n is given to the growing of cranberries Upon 

 manj farms are found wil 1 bogs to which the only 

 care given is an occasional cutting of the wild growth 

 to prevent its encroachment upon the bog These bogs 

 are usually found upon lowlands which are naturally 

 overflowed by streams during the winter months. The 

 most profitable bogs, however, are those which are care- 

 fully cared for and have a water supply which may be 

 controlled at will, thus often preventing damage from 

 late spring and early fall frosts. 



At the present time excellent opportunities are of- 

 fered for the growing of all kinds of fruits, to those 

 persons who are willing to invest their capital and con- 

 duct the work upon a practical and scientific basis, as 

 there are a number of markets which are never sup- 

 plied with home-grown fruit in sufficient quantities. 

 While it is true that fruit-growing, as an industry, is 

 not largely developed within the state, yet it is a 

 pleasant fact to note that excellent horticultural results 

 are obtained by the amateur. Numerous home gardens, 

 of small area, about many of the homes in the cities 

 and larger villages of the state are beautiful and attrac- 

 tive with their artistic tlower beds, varied shrubs, and 

 fine fruit trees. G. E. Adams. 



RHODE ISLAND BENT GRASS. Agrostis eanina. 



RHODOCHlTON (Greek, red cloak; alluding to the 

 large rosy red calyx). ScrophulariAcea>. A genus of a 

 single species, a free-flowering, graceful vine from 

 Mexico. Lvs. cordate, acuminate, sparsely and acutely 

 dentate: fls. solitary, pendulous, axillary, long-pedun- 

 cled; calyx conspicuous, large, membranous, broad 

 bell-shaped, 5-cleft; corolla-tube cylindrical, the throat 

 not personate, 5-lobed; lobes oblong, nearly equal; 

 capsule dehiscent by irregular perforations. 



voltibile, Zuce. Purple Bells. A vine with habit of 

 Maurandia, to which it is allied, but more vigorous and 



honsue, pendulum, NuttaUi and most of the Malajan 

 species. 



Their Place in Ornamental Planting. -mio&o&en- 

 drons are equally effective and desirable for single 

 specimens on the lawn or when massed in large groups, 

 and are especially showy when backed by the dark 

 green foliage of conifers, which at the same time afford 

 a most advantageous shelter. The dwarf species, which 

 are mostly small-leaved and flower at a diflerent time, 

 should not be grouped with the large-leaved ones, as they 

 do not harmonize with them; however, they are exceed- 

 ingly charming plants for rockeries or in groups with 

 other smaller evergreens. It is certainly true that the 

 Rhododendrons have not yet received the attention they 

 deserve. They are still "far from being as popular as 

 they are in England. The beautiful Himalayan species 

 and their numerous hybrids especially are still almost 

 unknown in this country, although without doubt they 

 could be grown as well outdoors in the middle and 

 southern Atlantic States as they are in England, if the 

 right situation were selected. Formerly it was con- 

 sidered impossible to grow the beautiful hardy hybrids 

 in the New England states, but now it has been sliown 

 by such splendid collections as those of Mr. H. H. 

 Hunnewell at Wellesley, Mass. (see A. F. 13:24-31 and 

 Gng. 5:375-377), that, even in a trying climate, they can 

 be grown to perfection if the right situations are se- 

 lected and Ihf rii^'hl \v:iv of cultivation is followed. 



Outdoor ('/,//,,■„/„.» -Tlie selection of a suitable 

 situation is nt fi.rciii"^! importance. If possible the 

 beds should be slii-lti-n -d against drying winds and the 

 burning sun by tall conifers, but the shelter should be 

 always light and natural, as too much shelter by dense 

 hedges or walls close to the plants is worse than no 

 shelter at |11. Any open, well-drained soil which does 



