Conditions favourable to the Rhododendron. 33 



plants to assume a brown and unhealthy appearance; and, 

 generally, the leaves on the lower branches to fall off. These 

 evils may, however, be effectually prevented by using double pots, 

 as recommended by Mr. Blair in IX. 576., with this modification, 

 that his pots, being intended for growing marsh or aquatic plants, 

 require to be cemented together at the bottom ; but, for the 

 purpose of which I speak, nothing more is necessary, than that 

 the empty pot, which is intended to form a screen for the other 

 which contains the plant, be sufficiently large to receive the 

 latter within it, so that the tops of both are nearly on a level. I 

 have practised this, less or more, for the last three years, both 

 with stove and green-house plants, and, during the dry weather 

 of last summer, at least one hundred of the latter had their pots 

 protected in this way. 



Those who cultivate many of the tropical ferns will also find 

 it of service in preserving the delicate roots of those plants from 

 the effects of dry heat. I am, Sir, yours, &c. 



Bretton Hall, Nov. 6. 1833. R. Marnoc&. 



Art. X. A Notice of certain Conditions in connection with which 

 Rhododendrons have been found to grow andjlotver very satisfactorily. 

 By Mr. John Gow. 



Sir, 



When I undertook, in Sept., 1827 5 the superintendence of 

 these gardens, I found that my predecessor had left me a 

 valuable legacy of several thousand seedling plants of Rhodo- 

 dendron ponticum, in a three-light frame. In the last week of 

 July, 1828, I had the whole of the plants lifted very carefully 

 from the seed-bed, with a little ball of earth attached to each. 

 Three thousand of the largest and the best were sized, and 

 planted in nurse beds, in a north border behind the forcing- 

 houses, in rows across the border ; the rows 1 ft. asunder, and 

 the plants 9 in. apart in the rows. I had, preparatorily, had the 

 original soil removed to the depth of 14 in., and the excavation 

 filled up with peat earth: after the planting, I gave a good 

 watering with a pot and rose. As I had still upwards of 1,500 

 left, and the expense of preparing beds of peat earth was very 

 considerable, I resolved upon giving them a trial in the common 

 garden soil, which is of a light sandy nature. A part of a north 

 border, within the kitchen-garden, was selected for the purpose. 

 I had it well dug, and the surface made smooth with a rake ; 

 the best of the plants were then again selected, and planted in 

 rows across the border, at the same distances as before : after 

 the planting, a good supply of water was given. Upwards of 



Vol. X. — No. 48. p 



