CHAPTER V 

 FAMOUS COLLECTIONS 



THERE are many large collections of Rhododendrons in the 

 United Kingdom, some remarkable chiefly for the number 

 of interesting species and varieties they contain ; others for 

 their wealth of select garden forms ; others, again, on account 

 of the exceptional vigour, amounting almost to excessive 

 fatness, of the plants ; and still others in which interest, 

 variety, and exuberant health are all combined. 



Among national collections, Kew of course is an easy 

 first. Most of the species are in cultivation there, not all of 

 them, however, in the best of health ; still, the variety of con- 

 ditions provided at Kew afford exceptional opportunities for 

 the successful cultivation of almost all the Rhododendrons. 

 Those that are not represented at Kew are not known to be 

 in cultivation anywhere else. There are Rhododendrons in 

 the Philippines, a dozen species at least, and as many more 

 have been recently discovered in New Guinea. Some of 

 these are evidently well worth introducing as garden plants, 

 but they are not obtainable at present. The Chinese trea- 

 sures, thanks to intelligent collectors, are being introduced 

 into cultivation almost as fast as they are discovered. 



The Azalea Garden at Kew is in June one of the most 

 lovely floral displays to be seen anywhere ; nor are there many 

 better exhibitions of the hardy evergreen Rhododendrons 

 than is to be seen every summer in the Rhododendron dell, 



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