FLOWERING SHRUBS 49 



anywhere else. We send to them for our young stock simply 

 because they specialize in rhododendrons and we do not. The 

 general lie of their land, the nature and dampness of their soil are 

 better suited to this shrub, and they lay themselves out to exploit 

 these advantages by raising young stock by the thousands. There 

 are very few firms in this country who are able to compete with them, 

 though we well remember how Noble, the grand old man of Bagshot, 

 used to do them, and also a few other houses in the same district 

 where the soil and the climate helped. 



One thing which tends to keep up the demand for plants is the 

 fact that so many people plant the rhododendron in impossible 

 places, in impossible soil, and expect them to flourish, only to find 

 that they have to be replaced after a very short innings. A soil con- 

 taining no lime is absolutely essential if they are to grow, and a good, 

 sweet, warm sandy peat is perhaps the best medium. This can easily 

 be supplied to them when planted, for they make such a small spread 

 of root that a peck or two of this compost would last a lifetime. 



As suggested above, we do not propagate many plants in this 

 country except in remarkably few nurseries. They are propagated 

 from cuttings and layers, and are also grafted on stocks of the 

 " catawbiense " type. Personally we prefer to adopt the method of 

 layering, and this we find answers our purpose. Each shoot, con- 

 veniently placed, is used, so that it may start on a single stem with 

 a single crown. Cuttings can be struck in sifted peat and sand, or 

 even in pure sand, if made with a heel and placed under glass. 



