Rhodochiton 



Rhododendron 



RHODOCHITON. 



Volubile, the only species (ord. Scrophularineai), 

 is a very handsome greenhouse climber. Propaga- 

 tion, by cuttings, in late summer, in sandy soil, 

 beneath a bell-glass ; also by seeds sown in heat in 

 spring. Soil, good loam, with some leaf mould and 

 sand, over efficient drainage. 



Only Species : 



volubile, 10', Je., calyx pale red, corolla dark 

 crim. (syns. Lophospermum atrosanguineum and 

 L. Rhodochiton). 



RHODODENDRON. 



Description. Amongst hardy, late spring and 

 early summer flowering, evergreen shrubs the 



tory these magnificent plants amply repay care. 

 Planted out in peaty soil, or grown in tubs or puts. 

 they need abundance of water at most seasons <>!' 

 the" year, but at no time do they like any artificial 

 heat indeed they are quite hardy, and only require 

 protection in the spring, otherwise the beauty ol' 

 the flowers is destroyed, as their bloom is dis- 

 played very early. 



Javanese Rhododendrons. Under this heading 

 all species, hybrids, and varieties needing inter- 

 mediate house or cool stove treatment may be 

 considered. They include the javanico-jasmini- 

 rlorum hybrids, and the newer race of multicolor 

 hybrids. " The temperature for these should not 

 fall below 55 at night. Encourage growth by 



RHODODENDRONS AT HOWTH CASTLE, NEAR DUBLIN. 



Rhododendron (ord. Ericaceae) has no rival ; the 

 flowers, borne in great trusses, have a superb 

 beauty ; while when the blooming period is passed 

 the handsome leafage makes the plants quite indis- 

 pensable. There are, too, many species that are 

 valuable for the greenhouse and the stove. The 

 hybrids include hardy and tender plants, whose 

 exclusion from the garden leaves a wide gap which 

 no other plants can fill. (<See also AZALEA.) 



Propagation.. By cuttings, grafting, layers, or 

 seeds, in cold frames or in heat according to the 

 constitution of the species, hybrid, or variety. 

 Very sandy peat should be employed in all cases. 



Soil. A deep, fibrous, sandy peat. They will, 

 however, grow splendidly in deep, fibrous loam, and 

 also in clayey loam with plenty of grit, provided 

 lime be not present. In any form lime in the 

 ground will spell disaster to all except hirsutum. 



Himalayan Rhododendrons. Where space can 

 be provided in a winter garden or cool conserva- 



syringing freely. Shade lightly in bright summer 

 weather, and at all seasons maintain a moist 

 atmosphere. Members of this section are indicated 

 in the following lists by st. 



Deciduous Species. Several very beautiful Rho- 

 dodendrons are deciduous, and the two most popu- 

 lar, flavum and sinense. are more particularly 

 referred to in this work under their better known 

 garden titles of Azalea pontica and A. mollis. In 

 addition to these, the deciduous section includes 

 arborescens, calendulaceum, danricum, nudiflorurn, 

 rhombicum, Vaseyi, and viscorum. 



Azalea Group.- In modern botany the genus 

 Azalea is not kept up, but forms a group or section 

 of the genus Rhododendron. The cultural remarks 

 made under Azalea and the selection of garden 

 varieties hold good, but those who wish to follow 

 modern botanical nomenclature may substitute 

 Rhododendron indicum var. amoennm for A. 

 amoena, R. calendulaceum for A. calendulacea, R. 



