CHAPTER VI 

 CULTIVATION 



THE treatment of Rhododendrons must vary somewhat 

 according to the conditions or the place where they are 

 grown. Mr. H. J. Mangles believed in planting the Hima- 

 layan species in borders, even where they are grown under 

 glass, as they are then less likely to suffer through getting 

 dry at the root than when they are in pots or tubs. Like 

 many other Ericaceae Cape Heaths, for example dry- 

 ness at the root is apt to seriously affect the health of all 

 Rhododendrons. In conservatories and greenhouses where 

 there are no borders, pot cultivation is often successful, but 

 close attention must be given to watering. Mangles held 

 that when the sun shines strongly against a pot containing 

 a Rhododendron, the roots perish and the soil turns sour so 

 that new roots will not go into it ; the same result being 

 produced by drought, even in a few hours, whilst water 

 adds to the mischief, rendering the soil more and more 

 sour and unfit for roots. " I have always borne in mind," 

 he said, " that the Sikkim Rhododendrons are for the most 

 part really alpines, which require coolness at the roots and 

 as much open air as possible, but which will not endure the 

 inequalities of our climate. I am no believer in starving 

 for bloom in the case of Rhododendrons. Mr. Otto Forster, 

 who, by the way, was the first to bloom R. Nuttallii in 

 Europe, agrees with me, and has recently expressed him- 



