12 THE RHODODENDRON. 



large enough for ten Rhododendrons of moderate 

 size may the first season contain a hundred. The 

 next spring, however, every other one should be 

 removed, and so on year after year. 



In the first planting, care must be taken to so 

 arrange the plants which are to remain permanently, 

 that future transplanting may be avoided. This is 

 easily done by first setting them out in position, and 

 then filling in the others. 



After planting, the surface of the bed should be 

 raked smooth, and prepared for 



MULCHING. 



We have said the Rhododendron is a surface-root- 

 ing plant, and therefore one great aim in cultivation 

 should be to keep tlie surface-soil moist. In old 

 beds, where the plants are masses of foliage, no ray 

 of sun will ever reach the ground, and the soil sel- 

 dom becomes dry. 



In new plantations we must prevent undue evap- 

 oration by mulching. The best mulch is spent tan, 

 which may be obtained at any tannery for a few 

 dollars a cord. It is cool and moist, the best pre- 

 ventive of evaporation, furnishes nutriment to the 

 roots as it decays, and accords in color so well with 

 the dark foliage of the plants as to produce a charm- 

 ing effect. 



The tan should be spread evenly over the surface 

 of the bed from one to three inches deep, according 

 to the exposure of the bed to the sun. It should be 

 applied by the middle of May, before the surface has 



