18 THE EHODODENDRON. 



them ill boxes, and keep them in cellars until spring, 

 when they are replanted in the open air. The plantf 

 are not unfavorably affected, and bloom finely year 

 after year. 



Thus it will be seen that the Rhododendron, 

 usually reputed a plant of difficult management, is 

 capable of enduring quite as much hard usage in 

 lemoval as any plant of our acquaintance ; and this 

 should serve as an additional incentive to its in- 

 creased cultivation. 



By a little attention to a reserve Rhododendron 

 bed where a number of duplicates may be grown, 

 we may yearly insure a display of bloom near the 

 house, and produce gorgeous effects at will from 

 masses of flowers. 

 • 



TREATMENT AFTER FLOWERING. 



As soon as the flowers have faded, the seed-cap- 

 sules should be removed. This is a work of much 

 labor, especially where the plants are large and tall. 

 It must be done carefully, that the tender shoots, 

 which arc then just starting into growth at the base 

 of the flower-truss, may not be broken or injured. 

 The best way is to grasp the branch with the left 

 hand close to the upper tuft of foliage, and with tlie 

 thumb and finger of the right hand bend the truss 

 of seed-pods to one side : it will usually break off 

 clean, witliout injury to the young shoot. 



The young wood coming from the base of a bloom- 

 truss will not usually, except on very strong plants, 

 set bloom the first year ; but if the seed is removed, 



