January 30, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



53 



transplanted many thousands, and finally, after the most pa- 

 tient and painstaking efforts, continued through two winters, 

 saw all our labor end in failure. 



The prime conditions necessary for the healthy growth 

 of the seedlings of this species are, evidently, absolutely 

 perfect drainage, plenty of fresh air, and a rather deep 

 shade. The gre6n-house did not supply these conditions. 

 Then a bright thought occurred to one of the men watch- 

 ing the experiments, by which we hoped to supply the exact 

 conditions of nature and let nature take all the care of the 

 plants. 



In April, 1887, we planted plenty of seed of this plant on the 

 surface of old, mossy logs, which lay half submerged in the 

 water of a springy bog, at the foot of a mountain. These logs 

 soaked up water from below, and were never dry, even in 

 summer. They were also in a rather deep shade, as tall trees 

 stood about them on all sides. I had often noticed small 

 plants of different Ericacece in abundance on top of much 

 decayed stumps in such places, so that I planted the seed with 

 some hope. 



In November, 1887, the logs were covered with multitudes 

 of little plants of our Rhododendron, but pitiful looking 

 things they were. In size from one-sixteenth to one-eighth 

 of an inch high, and still so Avatery and transparent that 

 we had no expectation of their ability to survive the winter. 



time, they can be grown rapidly and successfully. Four 

 years ago Mr. Jackson Dawson, in an address before the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society, explained in detail 

 the method he has practiced with uniform success. The 

 seed is sown in earthen pans early in January, in a soil of 

 peat, loam and sand in equal parts. The sand should 

 be sharp, but fine and clean, and entirely without iron or 

 clay. Over the broken crocks, which should fill one-third 

 of the pan, a covering of sphagnum or coarse siftings of 

 peat is placed, and upon this two inches of the prepared soil 

 is sifted, and then well firmed and watered gently. As 

 soon as the soil is settled the seed can be sown quite 

 thickly. It should then be covered with the slightest pos- 

 sible sprinkling of soil, after which a covering of fine 

 sphagnum is put over it, a gentle syringing is given, 

 and the pans are placed in a temperature of seventy de- 

 grees. After sowing, the seed should on no account be 

 allowed to get dry ; but at the same time saturation 

 should be avoided. It will usually come up in from two 

 to three weeks, and as soon as the first seedlings are 

 seen the coarsest of the moss should be gradually re- 

 moved, and when the seed is fairly up a slight sifting 



Fig. 90. — Berberis Thunbergii. — See page 52. 



In November last the seedUngs were, to our surprise, 

 half an inch high, with leathery leaves, and were safe and 

 solid, and from that time on we knew it was plain sailing. 

 This is a slow but a sure and an easy way to make this 

 magnificent native Rhododendron as cheap as any ordinary 

 shrub, and I hope it will be put in use by many nurserymen. 



SomerviUe, Mass. F. L. Temple. 



[It is true that success in growing Rhododendrons from 

 seed is almost impossible when they are started in a house 

 devoted to a mixed collection of plants which require 

 treatment entirely different from that needed by the deli- 

 cate seedlings of the different species of Rhododendron. 

 The device of our correspondent bridges over the most 

 dangerous period in the growth of the seedlings, and when 

 time is no object and where one has a swamp filled with 

 moss-covered and decayed logs no doubt large num- 

 bers can be produced in this manner. But nurserymen 

 are not always the fortunate possessors of swamp-land, and 

 besides this, they are obliged to raise stock more quickly 

 than is possible by the swamp-method. Although the 

 .seeds of Rhododendrons are very minute, and the plants 

 in the first six months of their existence require the most 

 delicate handling, yet if a house is devoted exclusively 

 to their propagation, so that they can be watched and 

 watered, shaded and transplanted at precisely the proper 



of fresh soil among the young plants will help to 

 strengthen them. As soon as they have made the first 

 rough leaf, they shoiild be pricked off thickly in boxes or 

 pans of fresh soil prepared as for the seed, carefully 

 syringed, and kept growing in a high temperature and 

 moist atmosphere. Such delicate seedlings as Rhododen- 

 drons at this stage should never be transplanted in a shed 

 or room where there is any draught, but always in a 

 close, moist atmosphere, as the roots are so delicate that 

 only a moment's drying makes them almost worthless. 

 After five or six weeks the plants will have covered the 

 surface of the ground, when they will again need trans- 

 planting, this time half an inch apart, and otherwise 

 should be treated as before, always having fresh soil and 

 clean boxes at each transplanting. At this stage, if every- 

 thing has been carefully attended to, they will grow very 

 rapidly, and will soon need transplanting the third time, 

 and, if properly cared for, may be set two inches or more 

 apart. 



This frequent transplanting in fresh soil each time keeps 

 the plants from damping and lays the foundation for a 

 vigorous plant for the future. If Rhododendron seedlings 

 are left long in the seed-box or pan, they are apt to be 

 attacked by a minute fungus, which will often carry off 



