34 Conditions favourable to the Growth 



700 of the worst plants still remained ; and, as I had not a 

 spare piece of ground for them in a sheltered situation, I chose 

 a spot on the outside of the garden, among a young plantation 

 of filbert trees, with the soil of the same quality as that of the 

 garden, but in a very exposed situation ; the ground was well 

 dug, and the surface made smooth with a rake : in this they 

 were planted in rows, at the former distances. 



I have now to state the progress of each plantation ; and, in 

 doing so, I shall first remind you, that only the two first men- 

 tioned stand upon an equal footing in point of climate. The 

 first had an advantage in the vigour of the plants; and they 

 certainly did make considerable progress in the first and suc- 

 ceeding years, insomuch that three fourths of them were planted 

 out in groups, in various parts of the pleasure-grounds and 

 woods, in the winter of 1830 and 1831, without any other pre- 

 paration than the ground being well trenched 2 ft. deep, and 

 the surface well broken in the bottom of each trench. They 

 continue to grow with luxuriance, and flower profusely. The 

 second plantation, as might be expected, did not grow very 

 strongly the first year after being planted ; but, the second year, 

 they began to grow very vigorously, as they still continue to do. 

 The greater portion of them have flowered during the last two 

 seasons ; and they are equally as well rooted, and can be lifted 

 with as good balls attached, as those planted in the peat earth : 

 a circumstance which very few would credit did they not see it; 

 but a circumstance which has been witnessed by many perfectly 

 well qualified to judge, and, among others, by Mr. W. M'Nab 

 of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. This eminent hor- 

 ticulturist, when he saw them, said, in his usual straightforward 

 way, " They look healthy and well, but I should like to see the 

 bottom of them : " which request was instantly complied with ; 

 when he expressed himself satisfied with the success of the 

 experiment. The plants of the third parcel, which were planted 

 in the exposed situation, did not make much progress for the 

 first two years after being planted ; neither have they as yet 

 made such strong shoots as the plants of either the first or 

 second parcels. This I attribute, in a great degree, to the 

 exposure of the situation ; and to want of shade, of which the 

 family of rhododendrons seems to be peculiarly fond. Still the 

 plants are veiy healthy, and flower profusely : their average 

 height is from 2 ft. to 3 ft. 



It will be seen, by the above statement, that the adoption of 

 my present practice was a matter, not of choice, but of neces- 

 sity ; and, from the success which has attended it, I am led to 

 infer, that, in all sheltered situations, where a moderate degree 

 of shade is afforded, and where the soil is of a light sandy 

 nature, the 22hododendron will grow and flower well, without 



